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Jason Shufflebotham Senior
Blake Watts Senior
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Table Of Contents/Quick Facts table of contents
UABSPORTS.COM
Table of Contents....................................1 2011-12 Blazer Roster.............................3 Practice Facilities.....................................4 Head Coach Alan Kaufman.................5-6 Assistant Coach Alan Murray..................7 Hunter Hawkins..................................8-9 Sam Love.........................................10-11 Wilson McDonald...........................12-13 Jason Shufflebotham........................14-15 Thomas Sutton................................16-17 Blake Watts......................................18-19 Ryan Davies..........................................20 Paul Dunne...........................................21 Conner Pratt.........................................22 Michael Ulmer......................................23 2010-11 Year In Review........................24 2010-11 Tournament Breakdown.........25 UAB Record Book...........................26-30 UAB Honors....................................31-32
UABSports.com is the most comprehensive sports web site for the Blazers’ athletic programs. The site provides fans with the latest news, results and features on all 17 UAB athletic teams. The site provides fans with a look at student-athlete and coaching staff biographies, all the latest news, game notes/weekly releases, press conference transcripts, rosters, statistics, feature stories and much more. Fans can watch all Blazer home matches in 2012 via live video webcasts. Fans can log on and watch Blazer Vision by subscribing to Blazers All-Access ($79.95 per year or $9.95 per month). A subscription to Blazers AllAccess allows fans to view UAB athletic events that are streamed live, highlights, interviews, press conferences and exclusive subscriber-only features. Follow UAB men’s golf all year long online at UABSports.com!
Players in the Pros.................................32 All-Time Letterwinners.........................33 Graeme McDowell................................34 Graeme McDowell UAB Visit...............35 Conference USA...................................36 UAB At A Glance............................37-39 UAB President/AD...............................40 UAB FAR/Administration.....................41 Gene Bartow.........................................42 Academic Support Services....................43 Sports Medicine....................................44 Strength & Conditioning......................45 Excellence At The Next Level................46 Proud Past/Bright Future.................47-49 All-Americans........................................50 Blazers Highlights.................................51 Campus Recreation Center...................52 Birmingham-The Magic City................53
uab quick facts
Founded...................................................................................................................... 1969 Enrollment.............................................................................................................. 17,543 National Affiliation............................................................................... NCAA Division I Conference Affiliation............................................................................. Conference USA President............................................................................................... Dr. Carol Garrison Faculty Representative.......................................................................... Dr. Frank Messina Director of Athletics..................................................................................... Brian Mackin Head Men’s Golf Coach.............................................................................. Alan Kaufman Career Record/Seasons..................................................... 1144-967-34 (.541)/13 seasons 2010-11 Head-to-Head Record................................................................. 42-106-1 (.285) 2011 Conference USA Championship.............................................................. T4th of 11 Returning Letterwinners.................................................................................................. 7 Newcomers....................................................................................................................... 3
athletic media relations
Athletic Media Relations Associate A.D./Media Relations Norm Reilly (nreilly@uab.edu)....................934-0722 Associate Media Relations Director/Men’s Golf Aaron Jordan (jordana@uab.edu) .................934-0722 Assistant Media Relations Director Tyson Mathews (tmathews@uab.edu)..........934-0722 Assistant Media Relations Director Ben Warnick (warnick@uab.edu).................934-0722 Media Relations Assistant Lauren Rupert (lrupert@uab.edu)................934-0722
C redits The 2012 UAB men’s golf media guide is an official production of the UAB Athletic Media Relations Office. The guide was written and edited by Aaron Jordan, Associate Athletic Media Relations Director. Special thanks to UAB Printing Services. Editorial assitance provided by Norm Reilly and head coach Alan Kaufman. Photography provided by Steve Wood, Nik Layman and Ashley Fleming. Cover and layout design by Provations Group. “UAB At A Glance” section designed by UAB Creative Services. Printed by UAB Printing Services.
Athletic Media Relations Fax:.......................934-7505 UAB Media Relations Mailing Address: BRTW 105 1530 3rd Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35294-1160 Overnight Shipping Address: 617 13th St. S. (Bartow Arena)
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2011-12 Season Outlook Blazers Return Entire Team • UAB head coach Alan Kaufman expects the 2011-12 men’s golf team to be one of the deepest teams he has had. The Blazers return every golfer from last season’s squad, which features two seniors (Jason Shufflebotham and Blake Watts). • Last season, the Blazers had one of the youngest teams in Conference USA, featuring seven student-athletes who were sophomores and freshmen. Three Newcomers Join UAB • UAB head coach Alan Kaufman announced the addition of three golfers who will compete for the Blazers beginning in the 2011-12 season. Conner Pratt (Birmingham, Ala./Coastal Carolina/Spain Park HS), Paul Dunne (Dublin, Ireland) and Ryan Davie (Aberdare, Wales) are the newest additions to the UAB men’s golf program. • Pratt comes to UAB after playing one season at Coastal Carolina. A native of Birmingham, Ala., Pratt played in four events during his rookie season with the Chanticleers in 2010-11. His best result of the year came at the Gary Koch Intercollegiate in which he carded an 8-over par 224 to finish tied for 35th overall. • Dunne was a standout golfer on the Ireland junior circuit. He claimed the 2010 Irish Youths Amateur Championship title with a four-round total of 287 (73-73-7170), finishing two shots ahead of the competition. He joined a list of past champions that includes professional stars Padraig Harrington and Louis Oosthuizen. Dunne just missed defending his championship title in 2011, missing a 15-foot putt that would have qualified him for a playoff for this year’s medalist honor. He instead settled for a respectable third-place finish. • Davie, a native of Aberdare, Wales, comes from the same hometown as former UAB standouts Chris Cousins and Ryan Thomas. He is considered by many as one of the top Welsh Junior players.
Shuff Wins Welsh Amatuer • UAB’s Jason Shufflebotham has won the 2011 Welsh Men’s Amatuer Golf Championship, which was held at the Aberdovey Golf Club on July 30. Shufflebotham defeated Rhys Pugh, a 2011 Walker Cup selection, by one hole in the 36 hole final on Saturday. • Shufflebotham, who was an No. 8 seed, reached finals of the championship when he defeated countryman Lee Jones 3-and-2 in the semifinals. Pughs was the number two seed and is considered one of the top golfers in Wales.
played well, recording a 13th-place with a four-day score of 283 (71-74-66-72). • Smylie Kaufman, a freshman at LSU and the grandson of UAB men’s golf head coach Alan Kaufman, carded a final round of 67 to finish with a 16-under par 272, topping second place finisher Bobby Wyatt (274) by two strokes.
Hawkins Finishes Third At State Amatuer Championship • UAB men’s golfer Hunter Hawkins ended play at the 95th State Amateur Championship at FarmLinks Golf Club tied for third place overall with a four-round total of 13-under par 275 (65-6867-75). Despite not winning the title, Hawkins was one of three Blazers who finished among the top 15 golfers in the 156-man field. • Hawkins was not the only bright spot for UAB golfers in the prestigious event. Thomas Sutton began the day in a tie for 33rd but vaulted up the leader board after carding an eight-under par 64 on Sunday, which was the lowest round by any golfer during the tournament. As a result, Sutton finished in sixth place overall with a 281 (71-73-73-64). Jason Shufflebotham (left) and Thomas Sutton (right) will look • Sam Love, another sophomore-to-be, also to lead the Blazers during the 2011-12 season. 2
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2011-12 Men’s Golf Roster
2011-12 UAB BLAZERS
Back Row (L-R): Assistant Coach Alan Murray, Michael Ulmer, Ryan Davies, Jason Shufflebotham, Blake Watts, Hunter Hawkins, Tyler Hock, Head Coach Alan Kaufman. Front Row (L-R): Conner Pratt, Thomas Sutton, Sam Love, Paul Dunne, Garrett Mayfield, Wilson McDonald.
2011-12 MEN’S GOLF ROSTER
Name Ryan Davies Paul Dunne Hunter Hawkins Sam Love Wilson McDonald Conner Pratt Jason Shufflebotham Thomas Sutton Michael Ulmer Blake Watts
Ht. 6-0 5-8 6-2 5-10 5-11 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-1 5-10
Head Coach Alan Kaufman (13th Year, LSU ‘58)
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Year Fr. Fr. Jr. So. So. So. Sr. R-So. R-Fr. Sr.
Hometown/High School/Previous School Aberdare, Wales/St. John Baptist Greystones, Ireland/Blackrock College Fort Payne, Ala./Fort Payne HS/Jacksonville State Trussville, Ala./Hewitt-Trussville HS Mobile, Ala./St. Paul HS Birmingham, Ala./Spain Park HS/Coastal Carolina Presatyn, Wales/Presatyn Montgomery, Ala./Montgomery Catholic Fairhope, Ala./Fairhope HS Fort Payne, Ala./Fort Payne HS Volunteer Assistants Alan Murray (Toledo, ‘02)
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UAB Practice Facilities The UAB men’s golf team is fortunate to have a range of top-notch golf courses in and around the Birmingham area which provide excellent settings for practice and tournaments.
Shoal Creek Course: 7,114 yards, par 72 Head Pro: Eric Williamson Shoal Creek stands as the living definition of “classic.” Each hole is framed by an elegant tree line and presents subtle use of slopes and contours that can be mastered only by those with a carefully planned strategy and the ability to execute. The bent grass greens are challenging and demand imagination at its best. This Jack Nicklaus design has been the host of two PGA Championships and one U.S. Amateur Championship. Ranked 61st in the nation, this picturesque golf course is one of the Blazers’ favorites and home to the UAB-hosted Shoal Creek Intercollegiate in the fall. Old Overton Course: 6,968 yards, par 71 Head Pro: Jim Brotherton Opened in 1993, Old Overton was named best new golf course in just one year later by Golf Digest. This Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate design is the complete golfing experience for every type of golfer. With tree-lined fairways and rolling hills, each and every shot demands a high level of precision, as even the slightest slip can easily result in a quickly escalating score.
Shoal Creek is ranked 61st in the nation.
Greystone Course: 6,900 yards, par 72 Head Pro: Steve Smith Opened in 1991, Greystone is a 36-hole facility with bent grass greens, bermuda fairways and excellent practice facilities. This championship course demands accuracy and precision as golfers must think their way through holes that demand strategic tee shots and calculated approaches. The Founders Course was the site of the Bruno’s Memorial Classic, a former stop on the PGA Champions Tour. Limestone Springs Course: 6,987 yards, par 72 Head Pro: Eric Smith Limestone Springs is shaping up to be one of the best golf courses in Birmingham. With bermuda fairways and Crenshaw creeping bent grass greens, this course is designed to challenge even the most avid golfer.
Greystone is the host of the Greystone Men’s Invitational.
Vestavia Course: 6,871 yards, par 72 Head Pro: Allen Austin After a whole new renovation, Vestavia Country Club has a new look to it. This course emphasizes accuracy off the tee with its tree-lined fairways and gently rolling hills. Missing left or right often means disaster. The key to playing well at Vestavia is creativity, accuracy and plenty of imagination. Oxmoor Valley Course: 6,631 yards, par 72 Head Pro: Eric Pigman Sculpted from the peaks and valleys of the Appalachians, Oxmoor Valley offers scenic forests, numerous creeks and challenging elevation changes. The Ridge Course, with its rolling fairways, heavy tree cover and precipitous 150-foot elevation changes, is incredibly photogenic. As a reminder of the site’s former use as mining land, the green at the par 5 twelfth is buttressed by a shelf of exposed shale rock. Timberline Course: 6,850 yards, par 72 Head Pro: Joe Kruse This Jerry Pate design features natural areas and multiple bunkers for challenging golf. It features an exciting par-4 and rolling hills for excellent course-management excercise. The course is located 30-minutes south of Birmingham and is one of UAB’s favorite courses to play.
Old Overton requires a high-level of precision.
Mountain Brook Course: 6,473 yards, par 71 Head Pro: Todd Edwards One hundred and eighty rolling acres in the southern portion of Shades Valley, cupped by two ridges of Shades Mountain, watered by a winding brook, and studded with natural hazards were selected in 1929 by the organization committee of the Mountain Brook Country Club as the setting for the Club House and golf course which now constitutes the properties of Mountain Brook Club. Mountain Brook is a great 18 hole regulation course designed by Donald J. Ross and opened in 1929.
Oxmoor Valley is along the famous Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. 4
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Head Coach Alan Kaufman ALAN
KAUFMAN HEAD COACH | 1144-967-34 | 14th SEASON | LSU ‘58
NCAA Championships appearance.
Alan Kaufman is in his 14th season as the head men’s golf coach at UAB. Since taking over the program, Kaufman has led the Blazers to unprecedented success and national acclaim in the world of men’s collegiate golf. In his tenure, UAB has made six NCAA Regional appearances during his previous 13 seasons, as well as three National appearances highlighted by a 12th-place finish in 2001 in the program’s first
Kaufman coached one of the hottest golfers currently playing on the PGA Tour in Graeme McDowell. McDowell was an All-America performer on the links and became UAB’s first No. 1-ranked golfer in both collegiate golf polls, the Golfweek Sagarin Performance Index and the Golfstat Cup rankings. To top off the year, McDowell was named the winner of the Fred Haskins Trophy, given to the top-performing collegiate golfer of the year. He was the C-USA Player of the Year and an all-conference selection for the second-consecutive year. McDowell had six tournament victories during the 2001-02 season and nine for his career. McDowell took the PGA Tour by storm in June, 2010 when he captured the 110th US Open title on June 20th in Pebble Beach, Calif. In doing so, he became the first UAB golfer to ever win a major championship. Furthermore, McDowell led the charge in the 2011 Ryder Cup to lift the Europeans to the title.
THE KAUFMAN RECORD
Kaufman has also had success with some of his more recent teams. In 2007-08, Kaufman led UAB to the program’s firstever Conference USA championship. The Blazers, who finished with a 10534-3 overall record, were led by Zack Sucher, who earned medalist honors with a nine-under par 207, as he became the second consecutive UAB golfer to capture medalist honors at the league championship (Garrett Osborn-2007). Under Kaufman’s guidance, UAB has finished first or second at the C-USA Championship five times in 11 years.
C-USA Year Record Finish Other 1998-99 102-82-3 T-4th 1999-2000 135-49-2 2nd NCAA Regionals 2000-01 139-50-2 2nd NCAA Nationals (T-12th) NCAA Regionals C-USA Coach of the Year 2001-02 119-58-7 6th NCAA Nationals NCAA Regionals 2002-03 63-95 2nd 2003-04 98-81-3 4th NCAA Regionals 2004-05 53-80-2 4th 2005-06 74-63 6th Individual NCAA Qualifier 2006-07 106-69-2 2nd NCAA Regionals Individual NCAA Nationals 2007-08 105-34-3 1st NCAA Nationals NCAA Regionals C-USA Champion 2008-09 61-75-4 3rd Individual NCAA Qualifier 2009-10 47-125-2 8th 2010-11 42-106-1 T-4th Individual NCAA Qualifier TOTALS 1 144-967-34 (.541)
The magical 2007-08 season continued for Sucher and UAB in the NCAA East Regional. Behind a school and course record nineunder par 62 during the second round of the Regional, Sucher earned co-medalist honors and led UAB to a fifth-place finish and a berth to Nationals for the third time in school history. The Blazers finished the Regional with a three-round total of 13-under par 839, the second-best 54-hole mark in school history. Following Sucher’s outstanding season, he earned All-America honors for the second time in his career, making him the fourth golfer in program history to be tabbed All-American, all of whom played under Kaufman. Kaufman also produced UAB’s first AllAmerican, No. 1 overall ranked golfer, Fred Haskins Trophy winner, and C-USA Player of the Year in Graeme McDowell in 2002. Furthermore, Sucher was awarded as the 2007-08 Conference USA Golfer of the Year, marking the second UAB golfer who has earned the league’s top recognition (Graeme McDowell, 2001 and 2002) under Kaufman. The 2006-07 campaign was no different as Kaufman led his team to another NCAA Regional appearance. Moreover, he helped Sucher become the first UAB player ever to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Nationals. Sucher did not disappoint, matching the school record at the NCAAs with a fourth-place finish and earning honorable mention All-America honors. As a team, the Blazers captured the 2006 Barona Collegiate Cup
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Head Coach Alan Kaufman during the fall season with a school-record performance. UAB shot a schoolrecord low 840 to capture the team’s first title since the 2005 campaign. Despite only capturing one team title, UAB boasted five finishes among the top-six teams in a tournament, as well as finishing the year ranked No. 42 in the nation. The Blazers also finished in second place overall at the Conference USA Championships. Because of the strong finish, UAB was an at-large selection to the 2007 NCAA East Regional, where the Blazers finished 14th of 27 teams. During the 2004-05 season, Kaufman guided a young UAB club to a fourth-place finish in Conference USA. Then-sophomore Garrett Osborn finished fifth at the C-USA tournament and garnered first-team All-CUSA honors. In 2005-06, Osborn continued his successful climb up the collegiate ranks, as he earned an at-large invitation to the 2006 NCAA East Regional. The NCAA nod earned UAB a regional competitor for the sixth time in the previous nine years under Kaufman. Osborn was forced to withdraw from the tournament, however, after undergoing surgery on his ailing right wrist the week prior to the tournament. In 2003-04, Kaufman led the Blazers to the program’s fifth NCAA Regional in program history. UAB finished the season with an overall record of 10175-3 and captured the 2003 Mason Rudolph Intercollegiate. The 2002-03 season record of 63-95 may not look impressive on paper, but Kaufman engineered one of the most impressive turnarounds in program history as he guided the team to its third Conference USA runner-up finish in four years despite injury problems.
UAB head coach Alan Kaufman discusses strategy before a UAB golf practice. In 2001-02, Kaufman guided UAB to a 119-58-7 overall mark and an 11-5-1 record in Conference USA play. The Blazers won the Country Club of Louisiana Intercollegiate in Baton Rouge, La., and recorded 11 top-10 finishes out of the 13 tournaments the team competed in during the season. UAB also registered a tie for ninth at the NCAA East Regional in Roswell, Ga. The Blazers advanced to the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive season. In 2000-01, Kaufman led the Blazers to their most successful season to date. Despite having no tournament wins as a team, the Blazers had 10 top-five finishes. UAB finished 139-50-2 and placed ninth at the NCAA East Regional, earning the team’s first chance at an NCAA Championship. The Blazers capitalized, finishing tied for 12th in the nation. McDowell won two tournaments and was named a Ping All-American, as well as a member of the Walker Cup and Palmer Cup teams. Because of the Blazers’ tremendous success, Kaufman was named C-USA Coach of the Year. In 1999-2000, Kaufman led the Blazers to a 135-49-2 overall record. UAB posted 10 top-five finishes, winning two tournaments, with senior Chris Devlin capturing one individual title. The Blazers highlighted their season by qualifying for the NCAA East Regional. The team finished 17th. In Kaufman’s first season (1998-99), the Blazers went 101-82-3 overall and 30-8-1 in C-USA. UAB recorded three top-five finishes, including a third-place finish at the Deep South Intercollegiate (Oct. 26-27) and a tie for fourth at the C-USA Championship (Apr. 19-21). The Blazers had nine top-10 finishes in 11 tournaments.
UAB head coach Alan Kaufman walks with former UAB great and current PGA golfer Graeme McDowell in 2011.
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Kaufman started playing at the age of 11 and has been involved with the sport in many different ways for over 60 years. His son, Jeff, played collegiately at LSU in the mid-1980s and his daughter-in-law, Pam, was head women’s golf coach at UAB in the early 1990s. Kaufman grew up in Atlanta, Ga., and graduated from Grady High School in 1954. He spent his collegiate years at LSU, graduating in 1958. He moved to Birmingham in 1965 and went to work for Coca-Cola. In 1967, Kaufman founded the Wall Street Deli, a national sandwich shop chain. Kaufman and his wife Pug have been married for 50 years. They have three children and five grandchildren.
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Assistant Coach ALAN
MURRAY ASSISTANT COACH | SECOND SEASON | TOLEDO ‘02 Former Toledo star Alan Murray is in his second season as an assistant coach with the men’s and women’s golf teams. Murray was named an assistant coach for the UAB golf programs in July, 2010. Murray, a native of Bray, Ireland, played on the European Challenge Tour and the Europro Tour for the last five years. “I am delighted for the opportunity to work with the UAB golf programs,” Murray said. “I often crossed paths with [UAB head coach] Alan Kaufman while I played at Toledo because he always had talented athletes from Ireland. I’m excited for the season to get underway and to help drive these programs forward.” Murray played golf at Toledo from 1998-2002. He earned first team All-Mac honors as a senior and helped the Rockets to the 2002 MAC Championship. The 32-year-old also served as an assistant pro at the Toledo Country Club after his tenure with the Rockets. “Alan is going to be a great asset for our golf program,” Kaufman said. “He has a great knowledge of the game and being a former collegiate and professional player, he will provide our student-athletes with terrific insight. We are very happy he is part of the UAB golf family.”
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Meet The Blazers HUNTER
HAWKINS 6-2 | Jr. | Fort Payne, Ala. Fort Payne HS | Jacksonville State
Sophomore Season (2010-11) Competed in six tournaments in his first full season with the Blazers ... best tournament came at the C-USA championship ... had a career-best 16th-place result in the event after carding a two-over par 218, which was also a career-best 54-hole score ... carded an opening round career-low 18 hole score of threeunder par 69 in the opening day of the Bancorp South Intercollegiate ... also recorded a career-best 36 hole score of 147 as the conference championahip. Redshirt Season (2009-10) Sat out the 2009-10 season as a redshirt. Jacksonville State (2008-09) Played one season with the Gamecocks, where he compiled a 74.72 per-round average ... was named the Ohio Valley Freshman of the Year ... also earned second-team All-OVC honors ... had one runner-up finish and three top-25 finishes during his freshman season at JSU.
Hunter Hawkins’ Career Stats Tourn. Rounds Strokes Avg. Best 18 Best 36 Best 54 Top-10 Top-25 Best Finish 2010-11 6 15 1147 76.47 69 147 218 T-16th Career Total 6 15 1147 76.47 69 147 218 T-16th Best Finish: T-16th - 2011 C-USA Championship Low Round: 69 - 2011 BancorpSouth Intercollegiate Low 36-Hole Score: 147 - 2011 C-USA Championship Low Tourney Score: 218 - 2011 C-USA Championship HUNTER HAWKINS CAREER LOG Sophomore Season (2010-11) Tournament Wolfpack Classic Louisiana Classic Duck Invitational BancorpSouth Intercollegiate Georgia Tech Invitational C-USA Championship
Finish Rounds Total T-72nd 77-79 156 (+12) 77th 77-74-84 235 (+19) T-72nd 75-75-83 233 (+17) T-41st 69-80 149 (+5) T-22nd 80-76 156 (+12) T-16th 72-75-71 218 (+2)
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Meet The Blazers Getting To Know Hunter CSI
Favorite TV Show:
Tombstone
Favorite Movie: Favorite Food:
Grilled Chicken
Favorite Actor:
Robert Duval
Favorite Actress:
Angelina Jolie
Favorite Website:
ebay.com
Favorite Musician/Group:
Randy Rodgers Band None
Number Of Holes In One: Ten Years From Now I Hope To Be:
Playing professional golf
Favorite Thing To Do When Relaxing: Watch TV
The Most Interesting Thing About Me:
I love the outdoors and snowboarding
I Came To UAB Because:
My friends were here and I wanted to play golf
Who Had Biggest Influence On Career:
My parents because they have always encouraged me
High School Five-year letterwinner (8th-12th grade) under head coach Adam Lomeens at Fort Payne High School ... high school teammate of current Blazer Blake Watts ... made four state championship appearances during high school career ... was the 2007 sectional medalist ... also captured the individual title at the Scotsboro Invitational ... helped lead team to a state runner-up finish in 2007 ... also led squad to the team title at the Blue/Gray Championship. Personal Full name is William Hunter Hawkins ... born July 17, 1990 in Fort Payne, Ala. ... son of Vicki Dodd and Chuck Hawkins ... intended major is accounting ... also has seven brothers and sisters.
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Meet The Blazers SAM
LOVE 5-10 | So. Trussville, Ala. | Hewitt-Trussville HS
Freshman Season (2010-11) Had an immediate impact during his freshman season ... competed in seven events during the year for the Blazers ... had a career-best seventh-place finish at the Georgia Tech Invitational ... carded a career-best round of 71 on two separate occasions coming at the Georgia Tech Invtatational final round and the first round of his next tournament, the Conference USA Championship ... also carded a career-low 36 hole (144) and 54-hole (218) scores at the CUSA championship, which helped him to a 16th-place finish ... finished the season with a 76.17 per round stroke average. High School Despite only playing two seasons on the team, he made an impact on the high school ranks as Golfweek/Sagarin rated him as the fifth-best golfer in the state of Alabama ... captured three medalist honors and made seven alltournament teams ... was also one of the top golfers in the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour (SJGT), capturing the
Sam Love’s Career Stats 2010-11 Career Total
Tourn. 7 7
Rounds 18 18
Strokes 1371 1371
Avg. 76.17 76.17
Best 18 Best 36 71 (2x) 144 71 (2x) 144
Best 54 218 218
Top-10 1 1
Top-25 2 2
Best Finish T-7th T-7th
Best Finish: T-7th- 2011 Georgia Tech Invitational Low Round: 71 (2x) - 2011 Georgia Tech Invitational, 2011 C-USA Championship Low 36-Hole Score: 144- 2011 C-USA Championship Low Tourney Score: 218- 2011 C-USA Championship SAM LOVE CAREER LOG Freshman Season (2010-11) Tournament Hummingbird Intercollegiate SunTrust Gator Invitational John Hayt Intercollegiate Louisiana Classic BancorpSouth Intercollegiate Georgia Tech Invitational C-USA Championship
Finish Rounds Total T-74th 77-76 153 (+9) T-55th 76-76-77 229 (+19) T-68th 80-79-74 233 (+17) T-78th 75-76-85 236 (+20) T-60th 80-74 154 (+10) T-7th 77-71 148 (+4) T-16th 71-73-74 218 (+2)
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Meet The Blazers Getting To Know Sam South Park
Favorite TV Show:
Grits and Steak
Favorite Food:
Joe Dirt
Favorite Movie:
Johnny Depp
Favorite Actor:
Alabama
Favorite Musician/Group:
One
Number Of Holes In One: Ten Years From Now I Hope To Be:
Playing golf professionally
Favorite Thing To Do When Relaxing:
Playing golf professionally
The Most Interesting Thing About Me:
I always like to match my clothes
Person I Would Most Like To Meet:
Jack Nicklaus
Who Had Biggest Influence On Career: Chris Rigdon: He just really supported me throughout my junior career. Favorite Tournament To Watch:
The Masters
individual title at Rock Creek Country Club ... placed third overall in the SJGT Tournament of Champions and had a second-place finish at the Brad Willis Tournament in August of 2009 ... participated in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) “Paying It Forward” program where he raised $7,200 which was the highest fundraiser nationally of all the AJGA 2009 programs ... a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta (mathematics honor society) ... coached by Chad Dahlke. Personal Full name is Sam Roper Love ... born March 16, 1992 in Birmingham, Ala. ... son of Kathy and Carmen Love ... intended major at UAB is industrial distribution ... has one sister.
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Meet The Blazers WILSON
MCDONALD 5-11 | So. Mobile, Ala. | St. Paul HS
Freshman Season (2010-11) Saw action in five tournaments as a true freshman ... his best tournament came when he competed as an individual at the Montevallo Intercollegiate where he finished 20th overall ... carded a career-low 18-hole score of 70 during the second round of the Hummingbird Invitational ... finished that tournament tied for 27th overall with a career-best 36-hole score of 146 ... shot a 54-hole low mark of 229 at the SunTrust Gator Inviational. High School Competed under head coach Sandy Santoli at St. Paul’s High School, which is the same high school that former UAB great Zack Sucher attended ... a five-time AHSAA all-state honoree (2005-10) dating back to his eighth-grade season ... was named to the all-metro team by the Mobile Press Register in 2009 ... was tabbed the 2007 Southeastern Junior Golf Tour Player of the Year and the 2007 Robert Trent Jones Junior Tour Player of the Year ... led St. Paul to the boys 5A state championship in 2009 and 2010 ... finished runner-up for the 2010 individual medalist honors ...
Wilson McDonald’s Career Stats Tourn. Rounds Strokes Avg. Best 18 Best 36 Best 54 Top-10 Top-25 Best Finish 2010-11 5 13 1001 77.00 70 146 229 1 20th Career Total 5 13 1001 77.00 70 146 229 1 20th Best Finish: 20th - 2010 Montevallo Intercollegiate Low Round: 70 - 2011 Hummingbird Invitational Low 36-Hole Score: 146 - 2010 Hummingbird Intercollegiate Low Tourney Score: 229 - 2011 SunTrust Invitational WILSON MCDONALD CAREER LOG Freshman Season (2010-11) Tournament Ocean Course Intercollegiate Montevallo Intercollegiate* Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate Hummingbitd Intercollegiate SunTrust Invitational
Finish Rounds Total T-58th 80-82-74 236 (+20) 20th 74-81 155 (+13) 60th 79-80-76 235 (+22) T-27th 76-70 146 (+4) T-55th 79-76-74 229 (+19)
* indicates player competed as an individual
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Meet The Blazers Getting To Know Wilson Sportscenter
Favorite TV Show: Favorite Food:
Cheeseburger
Favorite Actor:
Will Ferrell
Favorite Movie:
Forest Gump
Favorite Singer/Group:
George Strait
Number Of Holes In One: If I Played Another Sport It Would Be: Favorite Tournament To Watch:
Three Football U.S. Open
Favorite Thing To Do When Relaxing:
Go to the course and play golf
Who Had Biggest Influence On Career:
Michael Brisbone, who was my swing coach and
has been very encouraging throughouth my career
I Came To UAB Because:
The great facilities/courses and the warm weather
helped his team to the sectional championship in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010 ... claimed the individual section title in 2008. Personal Full name is Wilson Joseph McDonald ... born Jan. 22, 1992 in Mobile, Ala. ... son of Jay and Beth McDonald ... major at UAB is industrial distribution ... has one brother and one sister.
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Meet The Blazers JASON SHUFFLEBOTHAM 6-3 | Sr. Prestatyn, Wales | Prestatyn HS Captured the 2011 Welsh Amateur Championship in July of 2011 ... defeated Rhys Pugh, a 2011 Walker Cup selection, by one hole in the 36 hole final. Junior Season (2010-11) Had a breakout season, earning an individual spot at the 2011 NCAA Regional ... named a second-team all-conference performer ... led the Blazers in average strokes per round during the season (73.26) ... collected a pair of top-10 finishes, including a career-best second-place finish in the opening tournament of the year, the Ocean Course Intercollegiate ... other top-10 finish was a seventh-place result at the Duck Invitational where he recorded a career-best 54-hole score of four-under par 212 ... carded a career-low 18-hole mark of 68 during the second round of the David Toms Intercollegiate ... finished
Jason Shufflebotham Career Stats 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Career Total
Tourn. 4 4 13 22
Rounds 12 12 35 59
Strokes 898 916 2564 4378
Avg. 74.83 76.33 73.26 74.20
Best 18 68 73 68 68
Best 36 144 149 (2x) 141 141
Best 54 Top-10 Top-25 216 225 212 2 8 212 2 8
Best Finish T-35th T-32nd T-2nd T-2nd
Best Finish: T-2nd - 2010 Ocean Course Intercollegiate Low Round: 68 - 2010 David Toms Intercollegiate Low 36-Hole Score: 141 - 2011 Duck Invitational Low Tourney Score: 212 - 2011 Duck Invitational JASON SHUFFLEBOTHAM CAREER LOG Freshman Season (2008-09) Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate SunTrust Gator Invitational John Hayt Collegiate Invitational
Finish T-42nd T-46th T-35th T-64th
Rounds 75-69-74 74-77-76 73-72-71 79-78-80
Total 218 (+8) 227 (+11) 216 (+6) 237 (+21)
Sophomore Season (2009-10) Gary Koch Intercollegiate David Toms Intercollegiate Furman Intercollegiate C-USA Championship
Finish T-64th T-65th T-103rd T-32nd
Rounds 75-74-76 73-76-79 79-79-79 79-74-73
Total 225 (+9) 228(+12) 237(+21) 226 (+10)
Finish T-2nd T-33rd T-19th T-23rd T-13th T-34th T-68th T-12th T-7th T-46th T-11th T-13th 66th
Rounds 72-73-72 70-78 73-73-70 74-68-74 71-72 72-74-74 79-79-75 70-73-75 69-72-71 76-74 72-78 74-73-70 77-77-70
Total 217 (+1) 148 (+4) 216 (+6) 216 (E) 143 (+1) 220 (+10) 233 (+17) 218 (+2) 212 (-4) 150 (+6) 150 (+6) 217 (+1) 224 (+11)
Junior Season (2010-11) Ocean Course Intercollegiate Wolfpack Classic Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate David Toms Intercollegiate Hummingbird Intercollegiate SunTrust Gator Invitational John Hayt Intercollegiate Louisiana Classic Duck Invitational BancorpSouth Intercollegiate Georgia Tech Invitational C-USA Championship NCAA Regionals
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Meet The Blazers Getting To Know Jason Family Guy, Inbetweeners
Favorite TV Show: Favorite Movie:
Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan
Favorite Food:
Chinese
Favorite Actor:
Denzel Washington The Killers
Favorite Musician/Group:
Two
Number Of Holes In One: Ten Years From Now I Hope To Be:
Playing professional Golf
Favorite Thing To Do When Relaxing: Listen to music or watch a movie
The Most Interesting Thing About Me:
I’m easy to get along with and enjoy socializing
I Came To UAB Because: ecause it’s a good academic university with a strong golf B team and experienced coaching staff Who Had Biggest Influence On Career:
My family and my coach
the spring campaign with four top-25 finishes over his last five events ... closed the campaign with eight top-25 results in the Blazers’ 13 tournaments ... one of only two UAB golfers to compete in each of the 12 regular season competitions (Thomas Sutton). Sophomore Season (2009-10) Competed in four events during season ... averaged 76.33 during the year ... had a career-best finish when he tied for 32nd overall at the Conference USA Championships ... shot a season-low round of one-over par 73 in the final round of the league championship. Freshman Season (2008-09) Competed in four events during season ... averaged 74.83 strokes per 18 holes on the campaign, which ranked third-best on the team ... best tournament result came with a 35th-place finish at the Gator Invitational, where he carded a career-best six-over par 216 ... recorded a career-best 18-hole score of twounder par 69 during the second round of the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate. Redshirt Season (2007-08) Did not compete in any events for UAB during the season ... earned a spot on the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. High School A two-year member of the Welsh team in 2005 and 2006 ... tabbed team captain in 2006 ... captured the North of Wales Four Counties championship in both 2005 and 2006 ... earned a semifinalist spot in the 2007 British Amateur Championship ... was also a semifinalist in the Welsh Amateur championship ... captured the Aberconny championship in 2007 ... made the semifinals of the 2005 Welsh Boys Amateur championship. Personal Full name is Jason Luke Shufflebotham ... born Aug. 30, 1988 in St. Asaph, Wales ... son of Kevin and Lesley Shufflebotham ... major is communication management. 15
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Meet The Blazers THOMAS
SUTTON 5-11 | R-So. Montgomery, Ala. | Catholic HS
Freshman Season (2010-11) Burst onto the scene after redshirting the 2009-10 season and was one of two UAB golfers (Jason Shufflebotham) to compete in all 12 events on the year ... was second on the team with a 75.66 per round stroke average ... had a career-best 13th-place finish at the Georgia Tech Invitational ... opened the Wolfpack Classic with a career-low round of 67, which was the best round of the year and the lowest 18-hole mark by a Blazer since since Adam West recorded a 67 in the final round of the 2008 Shoal Creek Intercollegiate ... recorded a season-low tournament score of one-over par 217 at the David Toms Intercollegiate to finish 29th overall ... had seven rounds below par ... named UAB Student-Athlete of the Week for the week of Feb. 24 ... earned a spot on the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Thomas Sutton’s Career Stats Tourn. Rounds Strokes Avg. Best 18 Best 36 Best 54 Top-10 Top-25 Best Finish 2010-11 Total 12 32 2421 75.66 67 143 217 1 T-13th Career Total 12 32 2421 75.66 67 143 217 1 T-13th Best Finish: T-13th - 2011 Georgia Tech Invitational Low Round: 67 - 2010 Wolfpack Classic Low 36-Hole Score: 143 - 2011 John Hayt Intercollegiate Low Tourney Score: 217 - 2010 David Toms Intercollegiate THOMAS SUTTON CAREER LOG Freshman Season (2010-11) Tournament Ocean Course Intercollegiate Wolfpack Classic Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate David Toms Intercollegiate Hummingbird Intercollegiate SunTrust Gator Invitational John Hayt Intercollegiate Louisiana Classic Duck Invitational BancorpSouth Intercollegiate Georgia Tech Invitational C-USA Championship
Finish Rounds Total T-42nd 79-73-80 232 (+16) T-46th 67-83 150 (+6) 44th 73-78-75 226 (+13) T-29th 70-76-71 217 (+1) T-53rd 69-81 150 (+8) T-41th 74-76-74 224 (+14) T-37th 68-75-82 225 (+9) 84th 75-78-88 241 (+25) T-81st 84-77-75 236 (+20) T-30th 75-72 147 (+3) T-13th 74-77 151 (+7) T-30th 77-74-71 222 (+6)
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Meet The Blazers Getting To Know Thomas Favorite TV Show:
How I Met Your Mother
Favorite Food:
Barbeque
Favorite Actor:
Will Ferrell
Favorite Actress:
Kristen Bell
Favorite Movie:
Wedding Crashers One
Number Of Holes In One:
The Script
Favorite Musician/Group: Favorite Tournament To Watch: If I Played Another Sport It Would Be:
Masters Volleyball
Ten Years From Now I Hope To Be: Married with a good job
Favorite Thing To Do When Relaxing:
Read
I Came To UAB Because:
To have a chance to play on a great golf team
Redshirt Season (2009-10) Sat out the 2009-10 season as a redshirt. High School A five-year letterwinner under head coach Mike Barranco at Montgomery Catholic High School ... earned state runner-up honors as a senior ... a member of the National Honor Society and the A/B Honor Roll. Personal Full name is Thomas Carson Sutton ... born Dec. 31, 1990 in Montgomery, Ala. ... son of Bill and Liz Sutton ... intended major is business marketing ... has a younger brother, Joseph, and older sister, Kristin.
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Meet The Blazers BLAKE
WATTS 5-10 | Sr. Fort Payne, Ala. (Fort Payne HS) Junior Season (2010-11) Captured his first-ever collegiate medalist honor with a first-place finish at the Montevallo Intercollegiate in which he competed as an individual ... competed in six tournaments in all during the season ... had a 28th-place finish at the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate after carding a season-low 54-hole score of 220 ... also had a season-best round of 70 in the same event. Sophomore Season (2009-10) Played in nine events throughout the season ... finished with a 76.84 per round stroke average in 25 rounds played on the campaign ... best result came with a 20th-place finish at the Jerry Pate Intercol-
Blake Watts Career Stats Tourn. 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Career Total
Rounds Strokes Avg. Best 18 Best 36 Best 54 Top-10 Top-25 Best Finish 8 24 1834 76.42 71 144 (2x) 217 1 2 9 25 1921 76.84 69 143 218 1 6 17 1380 81.18 70 142 220 1 1 23 66 5135 77.80 69 142 217 2 4
Best Finish: T-1st - 2010 Montevallo Intercollegiate* Low Round: 69 - 2010 Reunion Intercollegiate Low 36-Hole Score: 142 - 2010 Montevallo Intercollegiate* Low Tourney Score: 217 - 2008 Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate BLAKE WATTS CAREER LOG Freshman Season (2008-09) San Francisco Intercollegiate Carpet Capital Collegiate Shoal Creek Intercollegiate Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate SunTrust Gator Invitational Seminole Intercollegiate Reunion Intercollegiate
Finish T-20th 77th T-53rd T-48th T-9th T-70th T-62nd T-65th
Rounds 71-73-75 76-72-82 79-77-78 76-72-72 73-71-73 75-77-75 76-88-79 83-82-79
Total 219 (+6) 230 (+14) 234 (+18) 220 (+10) 217 (+1) 227 (+17) 243 (+27) 244 (+28)
Sophomore Season (2009-10) Gene Miranda Invitational Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate Bank of Tennessee at The Ridges David Toms Intercollegiate SunTrust Gator Invitational John Hayt Collegiate Invitational Louisiana Classics Barona Collegiate Cup Reunion Intercollegiate
Finish 93rd T-20th T-71st T-38th 75th T-72nd T-66th T-64th T-55th
Rounds 78-78-78 71 80-75-77 71-72-75 77-79-87 84-75-78 74-77-80 77-79-73 76-69-81
Total 234 (+18) 71 (+1) 232 (+16) 218(+2) 243 (+33) 237(+21) 231 (+15) 229 (+13) 226 (+10)
Junior Season (2010-11) Montevallo Intercollegiate* Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate David Toms Intercollegiate SunTrust Gator Invitational John Hayt Intercollegiate Duck Invitational * indicates player competed as an individual
Finish T-1st T-28th T-56th T-67th 84th 88th
Rounds 71-71 74-70-76 80-74-74 76-81-78 96-82-95 90-100-92
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Total 142 (E) 220 (+7) 228 (+12) 235 (+25) 273 (+57) 282 (+66)
T-9th T-20th T-1st T-1st
U A B
G o l f
Meet The Blazers Getting To Know Blake Favorite TV Show:
Seinfeld, King of Queens Rounders
Favorite Movie: Favorite Food:
Pizza
Favorite Actor:
Vince Vaughn
Favorite Actress:
Cameron Diaz
Favorite Website:
Yahoo.com
Favorite Musician/Group:
Jason Aldean
Number Of Holes In One:
Four
Ten Years From Now I Hope To Be:
Playing professional Golf
Favorite Thing To Do When Relaxing: Sleep
The Most Interesting Thing About Me:
My personality
I Came To UAB Because: ecause the golf program is very good and continuing to B get better legiate ... carded a career-low round of 69 in the second round of the Reunion Intercollegiate ... also recorded a career-best 36-hole mark after carding a 143 (71-72) through the opening two days of the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate. Freshman Season (2008-09) Had a breakout season, competing in eight of the 11 tournaments on the year ... averaged 76.42 strokes per round on the campaign ... best result of the season came at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate where he placed ninth overall to lead the team ... recorded career-best 54-hole score (217) in the event ... had another top-25 finish at the San Francisco Intercollegiate when he finished tied for 20th overall with a six-over par 219 ... also carded his career-low 36-hole score of 144 at the event ... carded career-low rounds of 71 at the San Francisco Intercollegiate and Jerry Pate National. Redshirt Season (2007-08) Sat out entire 2007-08 season as a redshirt. High School A four-year letterwinner under Patrick Barnes at Fort Payne HS ... led team to a second place finish at the Alabama 5A state championships in 2007 ... also placed in a tie for second overall in the 5A state championships in 2007 ... earned medalist honors at the state sectionals ... captured the Oxford Invitational title. Personal Full name is Blake Austin Watts ... born Dec. 15, 1988 in Fort Payne, Ala. ... son of Walter and Sharon Watts ... major is accounting ... also has one older sister.
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Meet The Blazers RYAN
DAVIES 6-0 | Fr. Aberdare, Wales (St. John Babptist)
High School Competed and earned a spot on the Welsh National Team ... captured the UK Nick Faldo Series title ... also competed for the soccer team ... from the same hometown as former UAB standouts Chris Cousins and Ryan Thomas. Personal Full name is Ryan James Davies ... born Feb. 19, 1993 in Aberdare, Wales ... son of Paul and Paula Davies ... intended major is undeclared ... has a younger brother, Michael. Getting To Know Ryan Coach Kafman Says: Favorite TV Show: “Ryan is an outstanding player and I hope he has the same type of success as those two guys before him had. I think he Favorite Food: will be an impact player for us.” Favorite Movie:
Inbetweeners Steak and Chips Braveheart Soccer
Favorite Sport: Childhood Hero:
David Beckham Manchester United
Favorite Sports Team: Favorite Musician/Group:
Justin Bieber
Number Of Holes In One:
None, but I made a
2 on a par 5
Ten Years From Now I Hope To Be:
Playing on the PGA Tour
Favorite Tournament To Watch: Strongest Part Of Your Game:
Masters Iron Play
I Came To UAB Because: Because the golf program and playing on the awesome golf courses in Birmingham
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Meet The Blazers PAUL
DUNNE 5-8 | Fr. Greystones, Ireland (Blackrock College) High School A standout golfer on the Ireland junior circuit and considered one of the top junior players in his country ... a member of the Irish Youth National Team ... claimed a four-stroke victory at the Irish Under-18 Boys Championship ... selected to represent his country at the European Amateur Team Championship at Oceanico Victoria Golf Club, Portugal ... captured the 2010 Irish Youths Amateur Championship title with a four-round total of 287 (73-7371-70), finishing two shots ahead of the competition ... in doing so, he joined a list of past champions that includes professional stars Padraig Harrington and Louis Oosthuizen ... just missed defending his championship title in 2011, finishing third-place overall. Personal Getting To Know Paul Full name is Paul Colum Dunne ... born Nov. 26, 1992 in Dublin, Ireland ... son of Colum and Michelle Dunne ... intended major is business Favorite TV Show: Enourage, Desperate Housewives finance ... has an older brother, David, and older sister, Alison.
Mom’s Ham (with mashed potatoes)
Favorite Food:
Coach Kafman Says: Favorite Movie: “I consider Paul to be one of the top up-and-coming players around. I think he is one of the top prep players we have ever signed here at UAB. Favorite Actor: I am expecting big things from him in the future.”
8 Mile Will Smith Sandra Bullock
Favorite Actress:
Soccer,
Favorite Sports Other Than Golf:
Tennis, Rugby
Childhood Hero:
Tiger Woods Manchester United
Favorite Sports Team: Favorite Musician/Group:
Eminem
Number Of Holes In One:
Three
Ten Years From Now I Hope To Be: Playing on the PGA Tour
Favorite Tournament To Watch:
The British Open
Strongest Part Of Your Game: Wedges and Chipping I Came To UAB Because:
21
Because the golf program, weather and
good academic opportunities
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Meet The Blazers CONNER
PRATT 5-9 | So. | Birmingham, Ala. Spain Park HS | Coastal Carolina Freshman Season (Coastal Carolina, 2010) Played in two of the four fall events also competed in the Gary Koch Invitational, finishing with a career-best 224 to tie for 35th. High School Led Spain Park HS to three Alabama Class 6A State team titles ... ranked 50th in the Polo Junior Golf Rankings (as of Summer of 2010) ... placed sixth at the 2010 Alabama state championship ... ranked as high as 17th nationally in the Class of 2010 by the AJGA Polo Rankings ... a two-time American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) champion (2009 Southeast Junior Open and AJGA Junior at Steelwood) ... at the Southeast Junior, he posted a 54-hole total of 200, including a 62 and 68, for a Getting To commanding 10-shot victory over a talent-rich field ... the 62 was just one shot off the AJGA record and the second-lowest round in the As- Favorite TV Show: sociation’s history ... earned Golfweek National Player of the Week and was featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” for his victory ... Favorite Food:
Know Conner Two and a Half Men Italian
Favorite Movie: Step Brothers, The Expendables Personal Full name is Conner David Pratt ... born May 8, 1992 in Louisville, Ky. Favorite Sports Other Than Golf: Football, Basketball ... son of Dave and Nancy Pratt ... major at UAB is business administration ... has one brother, Clay. Childhood Hero: Tiger Woods Miami Heat
Favorite Sports Team:
Dave Matthews Band,
Favorite Musician/Group:
John Mayer None
Number Of Holes In One: Ten Years From Now I Hope To Be:
Playing on the PGA Tour
Favorite Tournament To Watch: Strongest Part Of Your Game:
Masters Off the tee
I Came To UAB Because:
22
Because of the facilities
and coaches
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Meet The Blazers MICHAEL
ULMER 6-1 | R-Fr. Fairhope, Ala. | Fairhope HS Redshirt Season (2010-11) Sat out season as a redshirt. High School A six-year letterwinner at Fairhope High School under head coach Jeff Hauge (7th-12th grade ... an all-state performer for four straight seasons (2007-10) and an all-county performer in each of the last six years (2004-10) ... earned the medalist honor at the 2007 Alabama state championship and also helped lead his team to a fourth-place finish in 2008 and state runner-up finish in 2009 ... won a pair of Southeastern Junior Golf Association tournaments championships in 2009, capturing the Lakewood and Fallen Oaks Tournaments ... helped lead team to the 6A High School Section I title in each Getting To Know Michael of the last four seasons ... also won the Mobile Junior Metro championship in 2007 and 2009... a member of the National Honor Society. Favorite TV Show: G olf Channel or anything on ESPN
Favorite Movie: Personal Full name is Michael Taylor Ulmer ... born March 5, 1991 in Mobile, Ala. Favorite Food: ... son of Mark and Anna Ulmer ... major is biology ... has one brother.
Remember The Titans
Favorite Actress:
Jennifer Aniston
Favorite Actress:
Facebook.com
Mexican Will Ferrell
Favorite Actor:
Lil Wayne
Favorite Musician/Group: Ten Years From Now I Hope To Be:
A professional golfer or an orthopedic surgeon
Favorite Thing To Do When Relaxing: Watch movies and relax at the pool
Person I Would Most Like To Meet:
Retief Goosen
Who Had Biggest Influence On Career:
My dad because of how he carries himself in his day-to-day activities
I Came To UAB Because:
My teammates and the competitive schedule. Also
because the golf courses are amazing and challenging.
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2010-11 Season In Review 2010-11 S eason H ighs /L ows Team Marks Lowest Single Round..................................284 .......... 10/4/10 - Wolfpack Classic First Round Highest Single Round (5 count 4 format)......... .......... 319 3/8/11 - Louisiana Classic first round Lowest 36 Holes..........................................585 ...........11/2/10 - Hummingbird Intercollegiate Highest 36 Holes........................................609 ................ 2/27/11 - John Hayt Intercollegiate Lowest 54 Holes..........................................871 .4/24-26/11 - Conference USA Championship Highest 54 Holes........................................913 ................... 3/1/11 - John Hayt Intercollegiate Best Finish.................................................. 3rd ............4/16-17/11 - Georgia Tech Invitational Worst Finish.......................................15th (2x) ........2/27/11-3/1/11 John Hayt Intercollegiate ..........................3/21-22/11 Duck Invitational Individual Marks Lowest Single Round....................................67 ....... Thomas Sutton - Wolfpack Classic 1st rd. Lowest 36 Holes..........................................141 ......... Jason Shufflebotham- Duck Invitational Lowest 54 Holes..........................................212 ...........Jason Shufflebotham- Duck Invitational Best Finish................................................... 1st ...............*Blake Watts - Montevallo Intercollegiate .........................................................(10/03-5/10)
NCAA Regional Participant • All-Conference USA men’s golfer Jason Shufflebotham of UAB was selected to participate in the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships. Shufflebotham was one of five golfers picked to compete as individuals at the Tucson Regional, which took place May 19-21. • Shufflebotham finished play at the 2011 NCAA Men’s Golf Regional with an 11-over par 224 (77-77-70). Despite a solid effort, Shufflebotham finished the Regional in 66th place and did not qualify for NCAA Nationals. • Shufflebotham was the first UAB golfer since Zack Sucher in 2009 to earn an individual spot in an NCAA Regional. All-Conference Blazer • UAB junior golfer Jason Shufflebotham was tabbed as a second-team All-Conference USA performer by a vote of the league’s 11 head coaches, announced the conference office on Tuesday. Shufflebotham garners his first-ever postseason award, while he becomes the first Blazer to earn all-conference accolades since former great Zack Sucher was named to the first team during the 2008-09 campaign. • Shufflebotham, a native of Presatyn, Wales, was the Blazers’ top individual finisher in eight of UAB’s 12 tournaments last season. He led the Blazers in stroke average at 73.13 while posting eight top-25 finishes and a pair of top-10 results. Shuff Leads UAB Throughout Season • UAB junior golfer Jason Shufflebotham had a stellar 2010-11 campaign for the UAB men’s golf team. • During the year, Shufflebotham led the Blazers in nine of their 12 events player during the season. The Presatyn, Wales native had a team-leading eight top-25 finishes, which included a pair of top-10 results. • He finished the year with a team-low stroke average of 73.26 per 18 holes, while he was one of only two Blazers (Thomas Sutton) to compete in every event during the season.
* Denotes competed as individual
2010-11 MEN’S GOLF RESULT CAPSULE Date
Tournament
Site
Team Result
Top UAB player
Sept. 13-24
Ocean Course Intercollegiate
Kiawah Island, S.C.
5th of 12
Jason Shufflebotham
Oct. 4-5
Wolfpack Classic
Lake Tahoe, Nev.
11th of 15
Tyler Hock
Oct. 11-12
Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate
Birmingham, Ala.
9th of 12
Jason Shufflebotham
Oct. 18-19
David Toms Intercollegiate
Baton Rouge, La.
11h of 14
Jason Shufflebotham
T-23rd (74-68-74/216)
Nov. 1-2
Hummingbird Intercollegiate
Cashiers, N.C.
9th of 18
Jason Shufflebotham
T-13th (71-72/143)
Feb. 11-13
SunTrust Gator Invitational
Gainesville, Fla.
10th of 14
Jason Shufflebotham
T-34th (72-74-74/220)
298-302-299/899
Feb. 27-Mar. 1 John Hayt Collegiate Invitational
Ponte Vedra, Fla.
15th of 15
Tyler Hock
T-21st (70-79-73/222)
297-312-304/913
March 7-8
La. Classic Invitational
Place T-2nd (72-73-72/217) T-18th (72-73/145) T-19th (73-73-70/216
Scores 300-300-288/888 284-309/593 289-297-297 297-291-295/883 293-292/585
Lafayette, La.
14th of 15
Jason Shufflebotham
T-12th (70-73-75/218)
292-295-319/906
March 21-22 Duck Invitational
Eugene, Ore.
15th of 15
Jason Shufflebotham
T-7th (69-72-71/212)
306-302-303/911
April 4-5
Bancorp South Intercollegiate
Jackson, Miss.
11th of 15
Thomas Sutton
T-30th (75-72/147)
297-291/588
April 16-17
Georgia Tech Invitational
Atlanta, Ga.
3rd of 5
Sam Love
T-7th (77-71/148)
303-302/605
April 24-26
Conference USA Championships
Texarkana, Ark.
T-4th of 11
Jason Shufflebotham
T-13th (74-73-70/217)
May 19-21
NCAA Regional
Tucson, Ariz.
--
Jason Shufflebotham
66th (77-77-70/224)
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291-294-286/871 --
U A B
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2010-11 Tournament Breakdown The Invitational at the Ocean Course The Ocean Course | Kiawah Island, S.C. - Sept. 13-14 Par-72, 7,504 yards | Finish: 5th of 12 Champion: North Carolina State Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Jason Shufflebotham 72 73 72 217 Philip Kaiser 79 76 72 227 Austen Dailey 75 78 76 229 Tyler Hock 74 86 70 230 Thomas Sutton 79 73 80 232 Wilson McDonald 80 82 74 236 Totals 300 300 288 888
Finish T2 of 72 T27 of 72 T33 of 72 T38 of 72 T42 of 72 T58 of 72 5th of 12
Wolfpack Classic Edgewood-Tahoe Golf Course | Lake Tahoe, Nev. - Oct. 3-4 Par-72, 7,445 yards | Finish: 11th of 15 Champion: San Diego, U. of Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Finish Tyler Hock 72 73 145 T18 of 80 Jason Shufflebotham 70 78 148 T33 of 80 Thomas Sutton 67 83 150 T46 of 80 Philip Kaiser 75 79 154 T66 of 80 Hunter Hawkins 77 79 156 T72 of 80 Totals 284 309 593 11th of 15 Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate Old Overton Golf Course | Birmingham, Ala. - Oct. 11-12 Par-70, 7,204 yards | Finish: 9th of 12 Champion: Auburn Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Finish Jason Shufflebotham 73 73 70 216 T19 of 60 Blake Watts 74 70 76 220 T28 of 60 Tyler Hock 69 76 76 221 T32 of 60 Thomas Sutton 73 78 75 226 44 of 60 Wilson McDonald 79 80 76 235 60 of 60 Totals 289 294 289 883 9th of 12 David Toms Intercollegiate Country Club of Louisiana | Baton Rouge, La. - Oct. 18-19 Par-71, 6,849 yards | Finish: 11th of 14 Champion: LSU Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Finish Jason Shufflebotham 74 68 74 216 T23 of 78 Thomas Sutton 70 76 71 217 T29 of 78 Blake Watts 80 74 74 228 T56 of 78 Austen Dailey 73 74 82 229 T58 of 78 Philip Kaiser 82 75 76 233 T68 of 78 Totals 297 291 295 883 11th of 15 Hummingbird Intercollegiate Country Club of Sapphire Valley | Cashiers, N.C. - Nov. 1-2 Par-71, 6,767 yards | Finish: 9th of 18 Champion: Jacksonville Univ. Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Finish Jason Shufflebotham 71 72 143 T13 of 98 Wilson McDonald 76 70 146 T27 of 98 Thomas Sutton 69 81 150 T53 of 98 Tyler Hock 78 74 152 T65 of 98 Sam Love 77 76 153 T74 of 98 Totals 293 292 585 T-9th of 18 SunTrust Gator Invitational Mark Bostick Golf Course | Gainesville, Fla. - Feb. 12-13 Par-70, 6,701 yards | Finish: 10th of 14 Champion: Florida Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Jason Shufflebotham 72 74 74 220 Thomas Sutton 74 76 74 224 Sam Love 76 76 77 229 Wilson McDonald 79 76 74 229 Blake Watts 76 81 78 235 Totals 298 302 299 899
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Finish T34 of 75 T41 of 75 T55 of 75 T55 of 75 T67 of 75 10th of 14
John Hayt Collegiate Invitational Sawgrass Country Club | Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. - Feb. 27- March 1 Par-72, 6,895 yards | Finish: 15th of 15 Champion: Arkansas Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Finish Tyler Hock 70 79 73 222 T21 of 84 Thomas Sutton 68 75 82 225 T37 of 84 Sam Love 80 79 74 233 T68 of 84 Jason Shufflebotham 79 79 75 233 T68 of 84 Blake Watts 96 82 95 273 84 of 84 Totals 297 312 304 913 15th of 15 26th Annual Louisiana Classic Oakbourne Country Club| Lafayette, La. - March 7-8 Par-72, 7,141 yards | Finish: 14th of 15 Champion: Illinois Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Jason Shufflebotham 70 73 75 218 Tyler Hock 72 72 75 219 Hunter Hawkins 77 74 84 235 Sam Love 75 76 85 236 Thomas Sutton 75 78 88 241 Totals 292 295 319 906
Finish T12 of 84 T17 of 84 77 of 84 T78 of 84 84 of 84 14th of 15
Duck Invitational Eugene Country Club | Eugene, Ore. - March 21-22 Par-72, 7,020 yards | Finish: 15th of 15 Champion: Oklahoma State Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Jason Shufflebotham 69 72 71 212 Tyler Hock 78 78 74 230 Hunter Hawkins 75 75 83 233 Thomas Sutton 84 77 75 236 Blake Watts 90 100 92 282 Totals 306 302 303 911
Finish T7 of 88 T63 of 88 T72 of 88 T81 of 88 88 of 88 15 of 15
The BancorpSouth Intercollegiate Reunion Golf Country and Club | Jackson, Miss. - April 4-5 Par-72, 7,416 yards | Finish: 11th of 15 Champion: South Alabama Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Finish Thomas Sutton 75 72 147 T30 of 75 Tyler Hock 77 71 148 T35 of 75 Hunter Hawkins 69 80 149 T41 of 75 Jason Shufflebotham 76 74 150 T46 of 75 Sam Love 80 74 154 T60 of 75 Totals 297 291 588 11th of 15 Yellow Jacket Classic Golf Club of Georgia | Atlanta, Ga. - April 16-17 Par-72, 7,020 yards | Finish: 3rd of 5 Champion: Georgia Tech Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Sam Love 77 71 148 Jason Shufflebotham 72 78 150 Thomas Sutton 74 77 151 Hunter Hawkins 80 76 156 Tyler Hock 84 76 163 Totals 303 302 605
Finish T7th of 30 T11th of 30 T13th of 30 T22th of 30 28 of 30 3rd of 5
Conference USA Championships Texarkana Country Club | Texarkana, Ark. - April 24-26 Par-72, 6,935 yards | Finish: T-4th of 11 Champion: UCF Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total Finish Jason Shufflebotham 74 73 70 217 T13th of 55 Sam Love 71 73 74 218 T16th of 55 Hunter Hawkins 72 75 71 218 T16th of 55 Thomas Sutton 77 74 71 222 T30th of 55 Tyler Hock 74 74 74 222 T30th of 55 Totals 291 294 286 871 T-4th of 11
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Record Books UAB MEN’S GOLF YEAR-BY-YEAR Year Head Coach Record Postseason/Highlights 1978-79 Jimmy Ballard -- 1979-80 Jimmy Ballard -- 1980-81 Jimmy Ballard -- 1981-82 Joe Davidson -- 1982-83 Joe Davidson -- 1983-84 Joe Davidson -- 1984-85 Joe Davidson --- 1985-86 Mac Logue -- 1986-87 Mac Logue -- 1987-88 Joe Davidson -- 1988-89 Joe Davidson -- 1989-90 Mike Dunphy 64-94-3 1990-91 Mike Dunphy 73-53-1 Sun Belt Coach of the Year 1991-92 Mike Dunphy 63-49-2 1992-93 Mike Dunphy 66-72-0 1993-94 Mike Dunphy 82-55-4 1994-95 Mike Dunphy 92-53-2 1995-96 Mike Dunphy 79-63-7 1996-97 Mike Dunphy 119-35-0 1997-98 Mike Dunphy 115-77-3 NCAA East Regional 1998-99 Alan Kaufman 102-82-3 1999-2000 Alan Kaufman 135-49-2 NCAA Regional 2000-01 Alan Kaufman 139-50-2 NCAA Nationals - 12th NCAA Regional C-USA Coach of the Year 2001-02 Alan Kaufman 119-58-7 NCAA Nationals - 26th NCAA Regional 2002-03 Alan Kaufman 63-95-0 2003-04 Alan Kaufman 91-81-3 NCAA Regional 2004-05 Alan Kaufman 53-80-2 2005-06 Alan Kaufman 74-63-0 2006-07 Alan Kaufman 106-69-2 NCAA Regional NCAA Nationals Individual 2007-08 Alan Kaufman 105-34-3 NCAA Nationals NCAA Regional C-USA Champions 2008-09 Alan Kaufman 61-75-4 NCAA Regional Individual 2009-10 Alan Kaufman 47-123-2 2010-11 Alan Kaufman 42-106-1 NCAA Regional Individual 33 Years Five Coaches
2000-01 UAB Blazers NCAA NATIONALS - 12TH PLACE
2001-02 UAB Blazers NCAA NATIONALS - 26TH PLACE
1889-1516-53 (.554) (Since 1989-90 only)
2007-08 UAB Blazers NCAA NATIONALS
UAB MEN’S GOLF COACHING LEGENDS
Joe Davidson
Mike Dunphy
1981-85; 87-89
1989-98
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Alan Kaufman 1998-present
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Record Books UAB MEN’S GOLF INDIVIDUAL TITLES THROUGH THE YEARS 2008-09 Zack Sucher 2008 Shoal Creek Intercollegiate Birmingham, Ala. 9/22-23/08 (72-69-73=214)
2000-01 Graeme McDowell - Atlanta Intercollegiate tockbridge, Ga., 5/10-11/01 (64-69-71=204) Graeme McDowell - Conrad Rehling Invitational Tuscaloosa, Ala., 3/23-25/01 (72-68-72=212)
2007-08 Zack Sucher 2008 NCAA East Regional; Chattanooga, Tenn. 5/15-17/08 (69-62-69=200) Zack Sucher 2008 C-USA Championship Texarkana, Ark., 4/20-22/08 (68-6673=207) Zack Sucher 2008 Bank Of America Intercollegiate Madison, Miss.. 4/7-8/08 (69-70-68=207) Zack Sucher 2008 SunTrust Gator Invitational Gainesville, Fla. 2/9-10/08 (68-67-68=203) Brad Smith 2007 Shoal Creek Intercollegiate Birmingham, Ala. 9/24-25/07 (73-71-69=213)
1999-2000 Graeme McDowell - 2000 Atlanta Intercollegiate Stockbridge, Ga., 5/8-9/00 (66-73-73=212) Chris Devlin - 2000 Bearkat Classic Montgomery, Texas, 4/10-11/00 (69-68-66=203) Chris Devlin - 2000 Beau Chene Collegiate Classic Mandeville, La., 3/27-28/00 (65-69-67=201) Daniel Ozley - 2000 49er Collegiate Classic Long Beach, Calif., 2/24-25/00 (68-75-70=213) Chris Devlin - 1999 Precept Peach State Invitational Eatonton, Ga., 9/27-28/99 (66-66=132)
Brad Smith earned co-medalist honors at the 2007 Shoal Creek Intercollegiate.
2006-07 Garrett Osborn - 2006 Scenic City Invitational Chattanooga, Tenn., 9/11-12/06 (74-69-74=217) Zack Sucher - 2006 Barona Collegiate Cup San Diego, Calif., 11/7-8/06 (65-65-69=203) Garrett Osborn - 2007 Conference USA Championships Texarkana, Ark., 4/29-5/1/07 (69-73-70=212)
1994-95 Zac Courtenay -1994 Trojan Fall Classic, Dothan, Ala. 11/5-6/94 (73-71-72=216) 1990-91 Jay Horton - 1991 Sun Belt Conference Championships Host Springs, Va., 218
2005-06 Garrett Osborn - 2005 Western Carolina University Invitational Cashiers, N.C., 11/7-8/05 (65-71=136) Garrett Osborn - 2005 Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate Birmingham, Ala., 10/10-11/05 (62-66-69=197)
1985-86 Lynn Farquhar - 1985 Spring Hill Intercollegiate Mobile, Ala., 1985
2003-04 Tigh VanLeeuwen - 2004 Seminole Intercollegiate Tallahassee, Fla., 3/1-2/04 (73-69-72=214) Chris Cousins - 2004 SunTrust Gator Invitational Gainesville, Fla., 1/31-2/1/04 (67-70-70=207) Chris Cousins - 2003 Mason Rudolph Collegiate Nashville, Tenn., 9/22-23/03 (67-69=136)
UAB MEN’S GOLF TEAM TITLES
2002-03 Nathan Turner - 2003 Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate Auburn, Ala., 4/11-13/03 (69-70-70=209)
Garrett Osborn captured the 2005 Jerry Pate National medalist honor.
1996-97 Chris Devlin - 1997 Conference USA Tournament West Columbia, Texas, 4/15-17/97, (72-71-70=213) Chris Devlin - 1997 All-American Intercollegiate Houston, Texas, 4/12-13/97, (68-73=141) Paul Dickinson - 1997 The Bridges All-American Bay St. Louis, Mo., 3/3-4/97, (70-66-68=204) Paul Dickinson - 1996 Legends/Pepsi Intercollegiate Franklin, Tenn., 10/7-8/96 (70-71=141) TIE Andrew Laurence - 1996 Legends/Pepsi Intercollegiate Franklin, Tenn., 10/7-8/96 (69-72=141) TIE
2001-02 Graeme McDowell 2002 Atlanta Intercollegiate Stockbridge, Ga. 5/9-10/02 (65-69-63=197) Graeme McDowell 2002 Conrad Rehling Invitational Tuscaloosa, Ala. 3/14-17/02 (68-68-65=201) Graeme McDowell 2002 Seminole Intercollegiate Tallahassee, Fla. 3/11-12/02 (68-69-69=206) Graeme McDowell 2002 SunTrust Gator Invitational Gainesville, Fla. 2/9-10/02 (65-67-68=200) Graeme McDowell 2001 Country Club of Louisiana Intrcl. Baton Rouge, La. 10/29-30/01 (70-66-68) Graeme McDowell - 2001 Topy Cup, Fukushima, Japan, 9/6-7/01 (69-70-67=206)
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2008 C-USA Championship 4/20-22/08 2007 Sam Hall Intercollegiate 11/5-6/07 2006 Barona Collegiate Cup 10/23-24/06 2005 Western Carolina Intercollegiate 11/7-8/05 2003 Mason Rudolph Collegiate, 9/22-23/03 2002 Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate 4/11-13/03 2001 CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate 10/29-30/01 2000 49er Collegiate Classic 2/24-25/00 1999 Peach State Invitational 11/27-28/99 1997 All-American Intercollegiate 4/12-13/97 1997 ODU/Jamaica Invitational 2/14-15/97 1996 Legends/Pepsi Intercollegiate 10/7-8/96 1996 Mizuno Peach State Invitational 9/30-10/1/96 1994 Trojan Fall Classic 11/5-6/94 1992 Alabama State Intercollegiate 11/2-3/92 % Denotes school record
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Texarkana, Ark. 1st of 11 (283-291-283=857) Hattieburg, Miss. 1st of 11 (282-282-294=858) San Diego, Calif. 1st of 18 (283-278-279=840%) Cashiers, N.C. 1st of 11 (281-289=570) Nashville, Tenn. 1st of 18 (273-290=563) Auburn, Ala. 1st of 12 (301-277-298=876) Baton Rouge, La. 1st of 15 (284-283-289=856) Long Beach, Calif. 1st of 18 (275-300-284=859) Eatonton, Ga. 1st of 12 (288-282=570) Houston, Texas 1st of 16 (298-293=591) Montego Bay, Jamaica 1st of 7 (318-307=625) Franklin, Tenn. 1st of 12 (284-292=576) Conyers, Ga. 1st of 18 (300-295-298=893) Dothan, Ala. 1st of 17 (300-293-295=888) Birmingham, Ala. 1st of 9 (296-294-298=888)
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Record Books UAB MEN’S GOLF TEAM RECORDS 18-holes (280 or better) 262 - Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala., 10/9/07 273 - Mason Rudolph Collegiate, Nashville, Tenn., 9/22/03 274 - NCAA East Regional, Chattanooga, Tenn., 5/16/08 274 - SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla., 2/9/02 275 - 49er Collegiate Classic, Long Beach, Calif., 2/24/00 276 - SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla., 2/9/08 277 - Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate, Auburn, Ala., 4/12/03 277 - Beau Chene Collegiate Classic, Mandeville, La., 3/28/00 278 - Barona Collegiate Cup, San Diego, Calif., 10/23/06 278 - Precept Peach State Intercollegiate, Atlanta, Ga., 9/22/98 279 - Barona Collegiate Cup, San Diego, Calif., 10/24/06 279 - Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 10/10/05 279 - SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla, 2/10/01 280 - SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla., 2/10/08 280 - NCAA East Regional, Williamsburg, Va., 5/18/01 280 - CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate, Baton Rouge, La., 10/30/00 280 - Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 10/16/00
The 2008 UAB men’s golf team became the first squad in program history to capture the Conference USA Championship.
36-holes (585 or better) 545 - Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala., 10/8-9/07 556 - SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla., 2/9-10/08 561 - NCAA East Regional, Chattanooga, Tenn., 5/15-16/08 561 - Barona Collegiate Cup, San Diego, Calif., 10/23/06 561 - Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 10/10-11/05 563 - Mason Rudolph Collegiate, Nashville, Tenn., 9/22-23/03 564 - Sam Hall Intercollegiate, Hattiesburg, Miss., 11/5-6/07 569 - Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala., 10/13/08 570 - Western Carolina Intercollegiate, Cashiers, N.C., 11/7-8/05 570 - Precept Peach State Invitational, Eatonton, Ga., 9/27-28/99 573 - Conference USA Championship, Sorrento, Fla., 4/19-20/09 574- Gary Koch Intercollegiate, Tampa, Fla., 10/3-4/09 574 - Conference USA Championship, Texarkana, Ark., 4/20-21/08 575- David Toms Intercollegiate, Baton Rouge, La., 10/26-27/09 575 - Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational, Statesboro, Ga., 3/14-15/08 576 - Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla., 2/10/07 576 - Shoal Creek Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 9/26-27/05 576 - Legends/Pepsi Intercollegiate, Franklin, Tenn., 10/7-8/96 577 - Conference USA Championships, Gulfport, Miss., 4/17-19/06 579 - Bank of Tennessee, Jonesborough, Tenn., 10/12-13/07 579 - Western Intercollegiate, Santa Cruz, Calif., 3/19/07 582 - Bank of America Intercollegiate, Madison, Miss., 4/7-8/08 583 - Shoal Creek Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 9/24-25/07
584 - Conference USA Championships, Texarkana, Ark., 4/29-30/07 585 - Hummingbird Intercollegiate, Cashiers, N.C., 11/1-2/10 585 - St. Mary’s Invitational, Carmel, Calif., 9/10-11/07 54-holes (866 or better) 827 - Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala., 10/8-9/07 839 - NCAA East Regional, Chattanooga, Tenn., 5/15-17/08 840 - Barona Collegiate Cup, San Diego, Calif., 9/10-11/06 842 - Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 10/10-11/05 844 - SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla., 2/9-10/08 847 - SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla., 2/9-10/02 848 - SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla., 2/10-11/01 850 - Pacific Invitational, Stockton, Calif., 10/2-3/00 854 - Mason Rudolph Intercollegiate, Franklin, Tenn., 9/27-28/04 854 - Barona Collegiate Cup, Lakeside, Calif., 10/21-22/03 855 - NCAA East Regional, Williamsburg, Va., 5/17-19/01 855 - Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 10/16-17/00 856 - CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate, Baton Rouge, La., 10/29-30/01 857 - Confernece USA Championship, Texarkana, Ark., 4/20-22/08 858 - Sam Hall Intercollegiate, Hattiesburg, Miss., 11/5-6/07 858 - Beau Chene Collegiate Classic, Mandeville, La., 3/27-28/00 858 - Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 10/17-19/99 859 - SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla., 1/31-2/1/04 859 - CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 10/30-31/00 859 - 49er Collegiate Classic, Long Beach, Calif., 2/24-25/00 860 - Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 10/11-12/04 861 - Conference USA Championship, Sorrento, Fla., 4/19-21/09 862 - Cleveland Golf/ASU Invitational, Augusta, Ga., 4/6-7/02 862 - Topy Cup, Fukushima, Japan, 9/6-7/01 863 - University Club Intercollegiate, Baton Rouge, La., 10/25-26/04 864 - Shoal Creek Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 9/26-27/2005 864 - Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala., 10/13-14/03 865 - Alabama Spring Invitational, Montgomery, Ala., 3/17-19/00 866 - Conrad Rehling Invitational, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 3/15-17/02 866 - Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate, Auburn, Ala., 4/6-8/01 866 - Bearkat Classic, Montgomery, Texas, 4/10-11/00
The 2001 UAB men’s golf team in front of the NCAA Championship banner.
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NCAA Championships Results 2008 - 311-297-315=923 2002 - 293-286-297-300=1176 (26th) 2001 - 297-289-300-293=1179 (T-12th)
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Record Books UAB MEN’S GOLF INDIVIDUAL RECORDS 18-holes (66 or better) 62 - Zack Sucher, NCAA East Regional Chattanooga, Tenn., 5/16/08 62 - Garrett Osborn, Jerry Pate National Birmingham, Ala., 10/10/05 63 - Graeme McDowell, Atlanta Intercollegiate Stockbridge, Ga., 5/10/02 64 - Cathal O’Malley, Jerry Pate National Birmingham, Ala., 10/08/07 64 - Graeme McDowell, Atlanta Intercollegiate Stockbridge, Ga., 5/10/01 65 - Kyle Sapp, Jerry Pate National Birmingham, Ala., 10/08/07 65 - Zack Sucher, Jerry Pate National Birmingham, Ala., 10/08/07 65 - Zack Sucher, Barona Collegiate Cup San Diego, Calif., 11/7/06 65 - Garrett Osborn, Western Carolina Intercollegiate Cashiers, N.C., 11/7/05 65 - Chris Cousins, Barona Collegiate Cup Lakeside, Calif., 10/21/03 65 - Graeme McDowell, Atlanta Intercollegiate Stockbridge, Ga., 5/9/02 65 - Graeme McDowell, Rehling Invitational Tuscaloosa, Ala., 3/17/02 65 - Graeme McDowell, SunTrust Gator Invitational Gainesville, Fla., 2/9/02 65 - Chris Devlin, Beau Chene Collegiate Classic Mandeville, La., 3/27/00 66 - Zack Sucher, C-USA Championship Texarkana, Ark., 4/21/08 66 - Clark Brown, Jerry Pate National Birmingham, Ala., 10/11/05 66 - Garrett Osborn, Jerry Pate National Birmingham, Ala., 10/10/05 66 - Garrett Osborn, Mason Rudolph Collegiate Nashville, Tenn., 9/22/03 66 - Graeme McDowell, CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate Baton Rouge, La., 10/29/01 66 - Graeme McDowell, CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate Baton Rouge, La., 10/30/00 66 - Daniel Ozley, Jerry Pate National Birmingham, Ala.,10/16/00 66 - Chris Devlin, Adams Cup of Newport Newport, R.I., 10/13/99 Graeme McDowell (1999-2002)
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66 - Chris Devlin, Adams Cup of Newport Newport, R.I., 10/14/99 66 - Graeme McDowell, Atlanta Intercollegiate Stockbridge, Ga., 5/8/00 66 - Chris Devlin, Bearkat Classic Montgomery, Texas, 4/11/00 66 - Chris Devlin, Deep South Intercollegiate Abita Springs, La., 10/26/98 66 - Paul Dickinson, The Bridges All-American Bay St. Louis, Mo., 3/3/97 66 - Carey Tuck, USA Fall Beach Classic Destin, Fla., 10/28/96 36-holes (140 or better) 128 - Garrett Osborn, 2005 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 132 - Graeme McDowell, Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla. 132 - Chris Devlin, 1999 Adams Cup of Newport, Newport, R.I. 133 - Cathal O’Malley, 2007 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 133 - Graeme McDowell, 2001 Atlanta Intercollegiate, Stockbridge, Ga. 134 - Zack Sucher, 2008 C-USA Championship, Texarkana, Ark. 134 - Zack Sucher, 2007 Barona Collegiate Cup, San Diego, Calif. 134 - Zack Sucher, 2006 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 134 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 Atlanta Intercollegiate, Stockbridge, Ga. 135 - Zack Sucher, 2007 SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla. 135 - Kyle Sapp, 2007 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 135 - Zack Sucher, 2007 NCAA Nationals, Williamsburg, Va. 135 - Brad Smith, 2006 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 136 - Chris Cousins, 2003 Mason Rudolph Collegiate, Nashville, Tenn. 136 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 Conrad Rehling Invite, Tuscaloosa, Ala. 136 - Graeme McDowell, 2001 CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate, Baton Rouge, La. 137 - Zack Sucher, 2009 Conference USA Championship, Sorrento, Fla. 137 - Zack Sucher, 2007 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 137 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 Seminole Intercollegiate, Tallahassee, Fla. 138 - Brad Smith, 2007 SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla. 138 - Mike Oimoen, 2007 Sam Hall Intercollegiate, Hattiesburg, Miss. 138 - Garrett Osborn, 2003 Mason Rudolph Collegiate, Nashville, Tenn. 138 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 NCAA Championships, Columbus, Ohio 138 - Graeme McDowell, 2001 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 138 - Graeme McDowell, 2000 CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate, Baton Rouge, La. 139 - Zack Sucher, 2008 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 139 - Zack Sucher, 2008 Bank of America Intercollegiate, Madison, Miss. 139 - Zack Sucher, 2008 Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational, Statesboro, Ga. 139 - Brad Smith, 2008 Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational, Statesboro, Ga. 139 - Brad Smith, 2007 Sam Hall Intercollegiate, Hattiesburg, Miss. 139 - Garrett Osborn, 2007 Western Intercollegiate, San Jose, Calif. 139 - Kyle Sapp, 2006 Barona Collegiate Cup, San Diego, Calif. 139 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 ASU Invitational, Tempe, Ariz. 139 - Graeme McDowell, 2001 Topy Cup, Tanaguara, Japan 139 - Graeme McDowell, 2001 Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla. 139 - Graeme McDowell, 2000 Atlanta Intercollegiate, Stockbridge, Ga. 140- Adam West, 2010 Louisiana Classics, Lafayette, La.
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Record Books 208 - Craig Gordon, CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate, Baton Rouge, La. 208 - Chris Devlin, 1998 Deep South Intercollegiate, Abita Springs, La. 208 - Paul Dickinson, 1996 Mizuno Peach State Invitational, Conyers, Ga. 209 - Zack Sucher, 2008 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 207 - Zack Sucher, 2009 Conference USA Championship, Sorrento, Fla. 209 - Adam West, 2008 NCAA East Regional, Chattanooga, Tenn. 209 - Brad Smith, 2008 C-USA Championship, Texarkana, Ark.
Brad Smith walks off the 18th green at the 2008 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship held in West Lafayette, Ind.
140- Philip Kaiser, 2009 Gary Koch Intercollegiate, Tampa, Fla. 140 - Brad Smith, 2008 Bank of America Intercollegiate, Madison, Miss. 140 - Garrett Osborn, 2006 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 140 - Garrett Osborn, 2005 Shoal Creek Intercollegiate, Birmingham, Ala. 140 - Graeme McDowell, 2000 Conrad Rehling Invite, Tuscaloosa, Ala. 140 - Graeme McDowell, 2000 Pacific Invitational, Stockton, Calif. 54-holes (209 or better) 197 - Garrett Osborn, 2005 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 197 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 Atlanta Intercollegiate, Stockbridge, Ga. 200 - Zack Sucher, 2008 NCAA East Regional, Chattanooga, Tenn. 200 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla. 201 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 Rehling Invitational, Tuscaloosa, Ala. 201 - Chris Devlin, 2000 Beau Chene Collegiate Classic, Mandeville, La. 203 - Zack Sucher, 2007 SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla. 203 - Zack Sucher, 2006 Barona Collegiate Cup, San Diego, Calif. 203 - Chris Devlin, 2000 Bearkat Classic, Montgomery, Texas 204 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate, Baton Rouge, La. 204 - Graeme McDowell, 2001 Atlanta Intercollegiate, Stockbridge, Ga. 204 - Paul Dickinson, 1997 The Bridges All-American, Bay St. Louis, Mo. 205 - Zack Sucher, 2007 NCAA Nationals, Williamsburg, Va. 205 - Kyle Sapp, 2007 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 206 - Zack Sucher, 2007 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 206 - Cathal O’Malley, 2007 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 206 - Brad Smith, 2006 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 206 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 ASU Invitational, Augusta, Ga. 206 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 Seminole Intercollegiate, Tallahassee, Fla. 206 - Graeme McDowell, 2001 Topy Cup, Fukushima, Japan 207 - Zack Sucher, 2008 C-USA Championship, Texarkana, Ark. 207 - Zack Sucher, 2006 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala. 207 - Chris Cousins, 2004 SunTrust Gator Invitational, Gainesville, Fla. 208 - Daniel Ozley, 2002 CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate, Baton Rouge, La. 208 - Graeme McDowell, 2002 Jerry Pate National, Birmingham, Ala.
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NCAA Championships Results 224 - Jason Shufflebotham (77-77-70) - 2011 231 - Brad Smith (75-71-85), - 2008 231 - Zack Sucher (79-71-81). - 2008 233 - Adam West (74-83-76), - 2008 237 - Kyle Sapp (84-76-77), - 2008 243 - Mike Oimoen (83-79-81), - 2008 275 - Zack Sucher (68-67-70-70), T-4th - 2007 279 - Graeme McDowell (71-67-67-74), T-4th - 2002 287 - Graeme McDowell (75-68-74-70), T-16th - 2001 294 - Drew Jones (72-73-75-74), T-86th - 2002 295 - Ryan Thomas (69-74-73-79), T-97th - 2002 295 - Daniel Ozley (74-68-78-75), T-46th - 2001 300 - Payton Osborn (74-74-78-74), T-63rd - 2001 301 - Craig Gordon (74-79-74-74), T-66th - 2001 308 - Craig Gordon (81-72-82-73), 151st - 2002 309 - Drew Jones (75-81-74-79), 82nd - 2001 330 - Blake Mozely (82-82-84-82), 157th - 2002
Y early S troke A verage L eaders Note: The yearly stroke average leaders date back to the 1989 season which was as far back as the records were kept. To contribute information to this section, please contact the UAB Athletic Media Relations Department at 205-934-0722. Year Name 1989-90 Jay Horton 1993-94 Johan Annerfelt 1996-97 Paul Dickinson 1997-98 Paul Dickinson 1998-99 Chris Devlin 1999-2000 Graeme McDowell 2000-01 Graeme McDowell 2001-02 Graeme McDowell 2002-03 Nathan Turner 2003-04 Chris Cousins 2004-05 Ryan Thomas 2005-06 Garrett Osborn 2006-07 Garrett Osborn 2007-08 Zack Sucher 2008-09 Zack Sucher 2009-10 John Darby 2011-12 Jason Shufflebotham
Average 76.35 75.10 72.48 73.00 72.30 73.60 71.30 69.90 73.20 72.89 73.07 72.24 72.69 71.39 72.79 73.62 73.62
Italics indicates the single-season school record for scoring average.
2 0 1 1-12 U A B Men’s G ol f
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Record Books UAB MEN’S GOLF HONORS Fred Haskins Award Winner Graeme McDowell - 2002 Golfstat Cup Winner Graeme McDowell - 2002
Conference USA Player of the Year Chris Devlin - 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000 Graeme McDowell - 2000-01, 2001-02 Zack Sucher - 2007-08
First Team All-American (PING) Graeme McDowell - 2001-02
Conference USA Freshman of the Year Chris Devlin - 1996-97 Blake West - 2006-07
Second Team All-American (PING) Graeme McDowell - 2000-01
Conference USA Newcomer of the Year Brad Smith - 2006-07
Second Team All-American (GCAA) Zack Sucher - 2007-08
Conference USA Coach of the Year Alan Kaufman - 2000-01
Third Team All-American (Golfweek) Garrett Osborn - 2005-06
First Team All-Conference (Conference USA) Chris Devlin - 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000 Graeme McDowell - 2000-01, 2001-02 Payton Osborn - 2000-01 Daniel Ozley - 2000-01 Chris Cousins - 2003-04 Garrett Osborn - 2005-06, 2006-07 Brad Smith - 2007-08 Zack Sucher - 2007-08, 2008-09
Honorable Mention All-American (PING) Paul Dickinson - 1996-97 Paul Dickinson - 1997-98 Zack Sucher - 2006-07 All-Southeast Region (PING) Garrett Osborn - 2005-06 Zack Sucher - 2007-08 Brad Smith - 2007-08 Conference USA Athlete of the Decade (1995-2005) Graeme McDowell Conference USA All-Decade Team (1995-2005) Graeme McDowell Chris Devlin
Second Team All-Conference (Conference USA) Chris Devlin - 1997-98 Paul Dickinson - 1996-97 Andrew Laurence - 1995-96, 1996-97 Garrett Osborn - 2004-05 Zack Sucher - 2006-07 Third Team All-Conference (Conference USA) Ty Auret - 1996-97 Tigh Van Leeuwen - 2003-04 Ryan Thomas - 2004-05
Garrett Osborn (2003-07)
First Team All-Conference (Sun Belt) Dave Bemis - 1987-88 Dave Cunningham - 1986-87 Lynn Farquhar - 1984-85; 1985-86 Jay Horton - 1988-89; 1990-91 Jim McDaniel - 1980-81 Jim Moodie - 1980-81; 1981-82 Mark Thompson - 1990-91 Men’s Golf Palmer Cup Participants Andrew Laurence - 1997 Graeme McDowell - 2000, 2001 Walker Cup Team Members Graeme McDowell - 2002
Honorable Mention All-Conference (Conference USA) Zac Courtenay - 1995-96 Carey Tuck - 1995-96 Conference USA All-Tournament Team Chris Devlin - 2000 Clark Brown - 2004 Garrett Osborn - 2005 Zack Sucher - 2007 First Team All-Conference (Great Midwest) Johan Annerfelt - 1994 Andrew Laurence - 1994 Zac Courtenay - 1994 Great Midwest Newcomer of the Year Johan Annerfelt - 1994 Zack Sucher (2005-09)
Sun Belt Conference Champion Jay Horton - 1990-91 31
2 0 11 -1 2 U A B Men’s G ol f
Clark Brown (2002-06)
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Record Books UAB MEN’S GOLF ACADEMIC HONORS Adam West - 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 Blake West - 2006-07 , 2007-08 Jason Woyak - 2003-04
Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal Robert Spiller - 2000-01, 2002-03 Michael Ulmer - 2010-11 Jason Woyak - 2003-04 Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll Ty Auret - 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 Clark Brown - 2002-03 Austen Dailey - 2008-09 John Darby - 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 Craig Gordon - 1999-2000, 2000-01 Landry Haynes - 2010-11 Tyler Hock - 2010-11 Mark Hudgins - 2008-09 Graeme McDowell - 1999-2000, 2000-01 Cathal O’Malley - 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 Mike Oimoen - 2009-10 Jason Shufflebotham - 2007-08 Adam Seale - 1999-2000 Richard Seale - 2000-01 Brad Smith - 2006-07, 2007-08 Robert Spiller - 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03 Thomas Sutton - 2009-10, 2010-11 Michael Ulmer - 2010-11
Golf Coaches Association All-American Academic Ty Auret - 1998-99 Conference USA All-Academic Team Brad Smith - 2007-08 Adam West - 2008-09
Adam West
Clark Brown
Cathal O’Malley
UAB MEN’S GOLFERS IN THE PROS
Chris Devlin Hooters Tour
Kyle Sapp
Paul Dickenson
Emerald Coast Tour
Hooters Tour
Brad Smith
Australian PGA Tour
Graeme McDowell PGA Tour
Garrett Osborn Nationwide Tour
• 2010 US Open Champion • 4th Ranked Player in World in January of 2011 • 2008 & 2010 Ryder Cup Participant • 2010 GWAA PGA Golfer of the Year • Won Golf Writers Trophy from the British Association of Golf Writers • Shared European Tour player of the year with Martin Kaymer • Won three individual titles during the 2010 year in addition to winning the decisive match in the Ryder Cup
Payton Osborn
Emerald Coast Tour 32
2 0 1 1-12 U A B Men’s G ol f
Zack Sucher Hooters Tour
Josh Thompson Hooters Tour
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All-Time Letterwinners UAB MEN’S GOLF ALL-TIME LETTERWINNERS Note: The following is a list of all-time Blazer golf lettermen as listed in UAB’s official records. These records are as complete as possible. If there are any additions or corrections to this list or the UAB record book, the UAB Athletic Media Relations Office welcomes them. Please contact the Athletic Media Relations office at (205) 934-0722 with any additions or corrections. A Tom Acker Johan Annerfelt Ty Auret B Toby Banks Murry Bartow Dave Bemis Clark Brown Paul Birdwell Herm Brehmer C Stephen Chapman Brad Conner Zac Courtenay Chris Cousins Bill Cox Dave Cunningham D Austen Dailey Scott “Radar” Daniels John Darby Joe Davidson Chris Devlin Paul Dickinson Mark Dillard Connor Doran Steven Driggers Mike Dunphy
G Mike Gazlay Chad Goodwin Craig Gordon Eric Gouldthorpe Chris Gustin H Lars Hafstad Michael Harrell Davis Hartley Hunter Hawkins Judd Hershiser Tyler Hock Jay Horton I No names listed J David Johnson Drew Jones
Jimbo Martin Kurt Matthewson Bill McCammon Jim McDaniel Wilson McDonald Graeme McDowell Jimmy Mintz Jim Moodie Lee Morrison Blake Mozley N Chris Nail Chuck Nichols O Mike Oimoen Cathal O’Malley Garrett Osborn Payton Osborn Daniel Ozley P Earl Persinger Walt Pittman Guice Potter Q R Troy Raybon Tim Richards
K Philip Kaiser Dan Keenan
E Wayne Echols Jason Eldridge
L Andrew Laurence Jim Ledvina Andy Lemons Patrick Levio Mac Logue Patrick Long Sam Love John Lucansky
F Lynn Farquhar Jeremy Franklin David Freeze Daniel Fontaine
M Carl Magnusson Tim Mahoney Brian Markowitz Greg Martin 33
S Kyle Sapp Gordon Saunders Adam Seale Pete Shields Jason Shufflebotham Walt Simpson Brad Smith Sammy Smoke Grant Snyder Bobby Spiller Trent Stewart Brad Stracke Zack Sucher Thomas Sutton
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Rob Svenson Robert Svensson Scott Swansen T Philip Tatum Dave Tennant Ryan Thomas Kaylor Timmons Josh Thompson Mark Thompson Carey Tuck Nathan Turner U No names listed V Tigh VanLeeuwen Cris Vargas Scott Vigne W Lance Waggener Glynn Waller Danny Walsh Ralph Watson Blake Watts Adam West Blake West Will Wilcox Jason Woyak Jim Wright Scott Wynne X No names listed Y No names listed Z Marco Zirov *Current Players in italics
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Graeme McDowell GRAEME MCDOWELL 1999-2002
• Awarded Fred Haskins Award for top golfer in the nation in 2002 • 2002 Golfstat award recipient (given to golfer with lowest average) • Two-time Ping All-American (2002 and 2001) • Two-time Conference USA Player of the Year (2002 and 2001) • Nine tournament victories and 24 top-10 finishes Year Tourn. Rds. Strokes Avg. 2001-02 14 43 3004 69.9 2000-01 14 42 2993 71.3 1999-00 13 38 2796 73.6 Totals 41 123 8795 71.5
Best Rounds Even/Under Top-10 18 54 Par Rds. Finishes 63 197 34 11 64 204 23 8 66 212 13 5 63 197 70 24
Best Finish: 1st – Nine Times Low Round: 63, 2002 Atlanta Intercollegiate (Course Record) Low Tourney Score: 197 (-19), 2002 Atlanta Intercollegiate (Course Record) 2001-02 (Junior Season) Tournament Rounds Total Topy Cup 69-70-67 206 ULM/Fred Marx Invitational 72-72-75 219 Club Glove Intercollegiate 75-77-71 223 Jerry Pate Intercollegiate 68-70-70 208 C.C. of Louisiana Intercollegiate 70-66-68 204 Gator Invitational 65-67-68 200 Cleveland Golf Classic 74-78-68 220 Seminole Intercollegiate 68-69-69 206 Conrad Rehling Alabama Invite 68-68-65 201 Cleveland Golf/ASU Invitational 68-71-67 206 C-USA Championship 72-71-76 216 Atlanta Intercollegiate 65-69-63 197 NCAA East Regional 72-75-72 219 NCAA Championship 71-67-67-74 279
Finish 1 T8 T12 4 1 1 T17 1 1 5 T15 1 T8 T4
2000-01 (Sophomore Season) Tournament Inverness Intercollegiate Pacifc Invitational Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate VCU Fall Preview CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate Suntrust Gator Invitational Beau Chene Collegiate Seminole Intercollegiate Conrad Rehling Alabama Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate C-USA Championships Atlanta Intercollegiate NCAA East Regional NCAA Championship
Rounds 72-73-73 69-71-70 71-69-74 74-69 66-72-75 72-67-71 74-70-67 74-73-74 72-68-72 73-70-71 73-75-75 64-69-71 71-73-70 75-68-78-75
Total 217 210 214 143 213 210 211 221 212 214 223 204 214 287
Finish T3 T3 19 T3 T8 T21 T2 T15 1 T4 T13 1 T40 T16
1999-2000 (Freshman Season) Tournament The Ridges Intercollegiate Precept Peach State Invitational Adams Cup of Newport Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate CC of Louisiana Intercollegiate The Bridges All-American 49er Collegiate Classic Alabama Spring Invitational Beau Chene Collegiate Bearkat Classic C-USA Championships Atlanta Intercollegiate NCAA East Regional
Rounds 72-74-77 73-72 77-72-76 79-80-72 71-76-78 71-76-73 73-72-69 71-71-72 72-73-72 73-71-70 76-77-75 66-73-73 80-70-78
Total 223 145 225 231 225 220 214 214 217 214 228 212 228
Finish T25 T13 T7 57 T22 T13 T2 T7 T19 T7 T32 T1 T56
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2 0 1 1-12 U A B Men’s G ol f
U A B
In February of 2011, former UAB great Graeme McDowell returned to his collegiate roots for the first time since his remarkable 2010 season when he captured the U.S. Open championship at Pebble Beach, led his European team to the Ryder Cup title and then was named the Player of the Year by the Golf Writers Association of America. McDowell came back to Birmingham, to visit with his former (and current UAB) coach, Alan Kaufman, catch up with some of his old teammates and give a few pointers to the 2010-11 Blazers men’s golf team.
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2 0 1 1-12 U A B Men’s G ol f
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Conference USA
Team Conference USA: Dedicated to Excellence
Britton Banowsky C-USA Commissioner
After marking its 15-year milestone during the 2009-10 season, Conference USA is still going strong. From the beginning, dedication to excellence has been the league’s guiding principle and remains today a common thread for a promising future. C-USA is home to 12 nationally prominent, tradition-rich members in East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UCF and UTEP. This combination enhances men’s and women’s programs that are immersed in athletic success and academic prowess. Together, we are committed to excellence, integrity and leadership in athletics, academics and in our communities.
All C-USA institutions sponsor Division I-A football, along with several other men’s and women’s athletic programs, many of which compete regularly for NCAA Championships. C-USA sponsors competition in 20 sports - nine for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and indoor and outdoor track and field) and 11 for women (basketball, cross country, golf, rowing, softball, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball). The league sponsors numerous academic awards, including the Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Commissioner’s Academic Medal, indicative of outstanding achievement in the classroom. C-USA annually awards 12 postgraduate scholarships, along with the Sport Academic Award, Scholar Athletes of the Year and the Institutional Academic Excellence Award. Conference USA also added a Spirit of Service Award, recognizing student-athletes three times a year for a combination of significant community service efforts, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport. SUCCESS ON THE PLAYING FIELD Conference USA performers have achieved great success in competition, placing the league among the top conferences in the nation. Football • 62 teams have earned bowl bids • Member of the Bowl Championship Series • Bowl tie-ins with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, Military Bowl, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl and the TicketCity Bowl Men’s Basketball • Consistently rated as one of the top basketball leagues in the country • 97 postseason teams (47 NCAA, 39 NIT, 6 CBI, 5 CIT) • One National Championship title game appearance • Three Final Four teams • Seven Elite Eight NCAA Tournament teams • One NIT Champion and four NIT semifinalists • Inaugural CBI Champion
pions in NCAA track and field competition, one national champion in diving and numerous NCAA individual and team competitors in cross country, golf, swimming, tennis and track and field. Overall, Conference USA teams and individuals have made more than 600 NCAA appearances. SUCCESS OFF THE FIELD C-USA institutions are among the nation’s best in academic performance among student-athletes, bolstered by the fact that student-athletes at league schools have a higher graduation rate than the general student population. Among C-USA’s 5,000 student-athletes, there are champions off the playing field as well. In 15 years, 153 student-athletes earned national ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors, while 541 were named All-District. In addition, more than 20,000 student-athletes have been named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll or received the Commissioner’s Academic Medal, indicative of outstanding achievement in the classroom. C-USA ON TV C-USA enjoys significant television exposure through a multi-tiered selection process that is rooted in partnerships with FOX Sports Media Group and CBS Sports Network. By partnering with FOX Sports Media Group and extending an existing partnership with CBS Sports Network, the league has substantially increased the number of national and regional appearances for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and all other conference sports. C-USA DIGITAL NETWORK The C-USA Digital Network will officially launch in August of 2011. Network programming will include live streaming of non-televised events, video on demand, a weekly C-USA studio show, podcasting, regular season and championship event highlights and C-USA produced feature stories. Monthly and yearly subscriptions will offer access to events offered on all 12 of the C-USA member institution’s athletic websites as well as C-USA network programming. C-USA IN THE COMMUNITY The conference’s footprint is concentrated with 12 members in nine states and a combined area population of nearly 17 million. More than 1.1 million living alumni represent C-USA schools across the nation. With a renewed commitment to community involvement, the conference has begun development of several initiatives to maintain strong ties in C-USA cities, as well as with fans and alumni across the country. C-USA schools also place a priority on giving back to their communities through volunteer service with local and national organizations. GOVERNANCE Along with the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC, Conference USA is one of the seven conferences having significant representation in the NCAA governance structure. The Presidents of the member institutions serve as the league’s Board of Directors. A PROUD HISTORY; A PROMISING FUTURE Conference USA was formed in 1995 and quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top conferences. The conference unveiled its name, logo and commissioner on April 24, 1995 in Chicago. The league’s charter members included Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, Houston, Louisville, Marquette, Memphis, Saint Louis, Southern Miss, Tulane, UAB and USF. Eleven of the institutions began athletic participation in 1995, while Houston joined competition in the fall of 1996. The league’s headquarters were established in Chicago and after nine years, relocated to the current office in Irving, Texas. Britton Banowsky was named Commissioner in October 2002, succeeding Mike Slive, the league’s first commissioner.
Women’s Basketball • 46 NCAA Tournament appearances • 36 WNIT appearances • One team in the NCAA Sweet 16 • Two WNIT semifinalists • One WBI Champion Baseball • 53 NCAA appearances • Six College World Series appearances (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2001), including five of the last seven • 13 Super Regional appearances • Has produced at least four NCAA teams in eight of the last 10 seasons In addition, 35 volleyball teams, 55 men’s and women’s soccer teams and 30 softball teams have earned NCAA Tournament bids. C-USA has sent three men’s soccer teams to the NCAA College Cup, five softball teams to the Women’s College World Series and three volleyball teams to the Sweet 16. The league has also had six national cham-
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C-USA added East Carolina (September, 1996) and the United States Military Academy (March, 1997) as football members. ECU began league competition in 1997; Army in 1998 and UAB began football play in 1999. The league added TCU and ECU (1999) for all sports and they began competition in 2001. USF started C-USA football in 2003. After celebrating its 10th Anniversary during the 2004-05 season, C-USA began a new chapter in 2005-06 when its current membership came together to form the new look of the league. Since its formation, C-USA has established a strong foundation, an identity and a history that reflects the league’s national presence. Fifteen years of remarkable history has reinforced the league’s position in collegiate athletics, setting the course for the next decade and beyond.
2 0 1 1-12 U A B Men’s G ol f
UAB AT A GLANCE UAB is a young, dynamic university that has, over four decades, won international renown for its leading-edge research, medical care and academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Home to more than 17,500 students and 2,000 faculty members, UAB impacts every facet of the Birmingham community, improving the lives of residents through innovative health care, education, and active service and engagement. On a campus encompassing 86 city blocks, breakthroughs are made daily in the arts and sciences, business, dentistry, education, engineering, health professions, medicine, nursing, optometry and public health.
Bharat Soni, one of America’s top computing experts and a UAB engineering professor, has created a high-performance virtual reality lab on campus. In more than 80 interdisciplinary research centers all over campus, faculty and students are pushing the envelope in science and medicine, developing new treatments and cures for conditions ranging from cancer to Alzheimer’s to heart disease. UAB’s physicianresearchers, and the facilities in which they work, are recognized as among the best in the nation. UAB’s impact on its community and state is tremendous, and is seen not only in improved education and health care, but in a stronger economy. As Alabama’s largest single employer, UAB has some 18,000 employees and is responsible for more than 61,000 jobs statewide (that’s one of every 33 jobs), and has an annual economic impact of $4.6 billion. One of every 25 dollars in the state’s budget is generated by UAB.
A University Forging the Future • UAB has seen record overall enrollment for three consecutive years. In fall 2011, UAB welcomed 17,575 students and its largest freshman class ever (over 1,600), with two-thirds of those freshmen living on campus. • Forbes lists UAB among the top 20% of all U.S. undergraduate institutions and The Princeton Review has ranked the university in the top 10 nationally for student diversity for three consecutive years (currently 5th).
UAB enriches Birmingham’s cultural landscape through a diversity of people and activities such as athletics, performing arts, theatre, social service, and much more.
• An exciting nexus of the sciences, business and education, and the arts and humanities, UAB is forging the ideas and technologies of tomorrow with intensely collaborative research and scholarship. It’s where creativity and innovation are campus traditions—and where successful futures begin.
2004 Blazer Football
www.uab.edu
Top-Quality Health
Care
• UAB Hospital is the largest in the state and among the largest and most complex in the nation (1,146 beds), and the only Alabama hospital listed for 22 straight years in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” issue, which lists only 3 percent of hospitals nationwide. In the current issue, UAB has six medical specialties in the top 25. • UAB is the largest academic medical center in Alabama and one of the top four largest academic medical centers in the United States, treating 1,187,230 patients last year. • UAB provides vital resources and services that are offered nowhere else in Alabama, such as an adult level 1 trauma center, a burn center, and a Level III (highest level) regional neonatal intensive care unit. • UAB’s Comprehensive Cancer Center was one of the nation’s first such centers designated by the National Cancer Institute and remains the only one in Alabama and a six-state region. • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has designated UAB as one of only six Diabetes Research and Training Centers in the country, putting the university at the forefront in development of new methods to treat, prevent and, ultimately, cure diabetes.
• The UAB School of Health Professions provides advanced opportunities and is one of the largest schools of its type in the nation, with 21 innovative programs at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degree levels within six departments: Critical Care, Diagnostic and Therapeautic Sciences; Health Services Administration; Nutrition Sciences; Occupational Therapy; and Physical Therapy. U.S. News & World Report ranks several SHP programs among the nation’s top 25. • UAB Kirklin Clinic is a state-of-the-art, full-service clinic that furnishes a full range of adult outpatient care. Housing more than 25 specialties and more than 700 specialists under one roof, UAB Kirklin Clinic conveniently provides in-house diagnostic testing, surgery services, a pharmacy and educational seminars. • Several graduate programs at UAB have been recognized for excellence nationally. In the most recent ranking by U.S. News & World Report of graduate programs, the School of Nursing ranks 26th overall, with the School of Medicine being 27th and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 58th. Individual programs also have been cited, with the AIDS program within the School of Medicine ranked 5th and the School of Health Profession’s health administration program ranked 7th.
A Leading-Edge Research • UAB is ranked 31st nationally for federal research and development funding, attracting over $460 million in 2010, and is 21st in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). • UAB is among a handful of universities classified by the Carnegie Foundation for both “high research activity” and “community engagement,” which suggests how effectively the university harnesses that research to benefit the community—in terms of the economy, education, better health, and quality of life. • Recent breakthroughs include a novel bio-coating for cardiac stents that significantly reduces the need for follow-up surgery; using remote satellite imaging to discover ancient ruins in Egypt, featured in a recent BBC documentary; a new collaboration with HudsonAlpha (Huntsville) investigating the genetic roots of Parkinson’s disease; the opening the Materials Processing and Application Development (MPAD) facility, the largest academic research facility of its kind in the nation, offering the rare capability of developing both metals and composites under one roof.
Enterprise
• Innovation Depot, in which UAB is a founding partner, was recently named the Top High-Tech Business Incubator in the nation by the National Business Incubation Association. As the largest incubator in the Southeast, the Depot was responsible for 75 tenant companies and $274 million in sales impact in 2010 (and $1.4 billion in sales impact over the past five years). • Physician-researchers are at the top of their fields, serving as editors-in-chief of 25 peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals, and in high-level national posts—UAB faculty are currently serving as President of the American Cancer Society and President-elect of the American Heart Association, and an alumna, Dr. Regina Benjamin, is U.S. Surgeon General.
• UAB is one of only two academic institutions available nationwide receiving requests for Crew Robotics and Vehicle Equipment (CRAVE) for NASA’s International Space Station, space shuttles, and beyond. Lee Moradi, CRAVE program manager in the Center for Biophysical Science and Engineering, says UAB will design, test, and manufacture high-precision research instruments and thermal carriers, he also foresees additional work to develop extravehicular activity and robotics equipment, crew health and conditioning systems, and environmental control and life-support technology.
Challenging, Distinctive
Academic Programs
• UAB offers one-of-a-kind programs, such as the only undergraduate biomedical engineering degree, the only industrial distribution degree in the Southeast, and one of only four forensic accounting and IT concentrations in the nation. • UAB also offers unrivaled research and scholarship opportunities for students at all levels, ranking 1st among all public universities in federal research funding per incoming freshman. Of the 138 undergraduates enrolled in the Science and Technology Honors Program (part of the acclaimed UAB Honors Academy) in 2010-11, 35 were published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. • In the U.S. News & World Report rankings of graduate programs, UAB has 13 programs in the top 25 and five in the top 10: Master’s in health administration, 5th; School of Medicine’s AIDS program, 6th; Medicine’s primary care, 10th; nurse practitioner (adult), 10th; nursing service administration, 10th. • The Scientist ranked UAB 22nd nationally (and 6th among public universities) in its “Best Places to Work as a Postdoctoral Fellow” issue. • UAB’s Alys Stephens Center is celebrating its 15th anniversary as Birmingham’s “home for the performing arts,” housing a 1,330-seat concert hall, intimate recital hall and state-of-the-art theatres. With 24 Steinway pianos in its music department, UAB is Alabama’s first “AllSteinway School” and one of only 125 in the world. • The School of Nursing is designated as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for International Nursing, one of only 10 such centers in the U.S. and 45 in the world.
Athletic Achievements
• Former UAB men’s golfer Graeme McDowell (right) won the U.S. Open in 2010. At UAB, he was the nation’s No. 1-ranked collegiate golfer in 2002. • In 33 seasons of competition, the Blazer men’s basketball team has enjoyed 29 winning seasons, has made 25 trips to postseason tournaments (14 NCAA, 11 NIT), and has won eight conference championships. With the 2011 NCAA berth, the Blazers have reached postseason play in eight of the past nine years (4 NCAA, 4 NIT). UAB advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2004, knocking off tournament No. 1 seed Kentucky in the second round.
• Just in the past three years, UAB students earned 8 Goldwater Scholarships, 7 Fulbright scholarships, 3 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships and an NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholarship (one of only 15 in the nation).
• The men’s soccer team advanced to the NCAA Championships for the fifth time overall in 2006. The team won the 1999 C-USA Championship and advanced to the NCAA Final 8. • The UAB women’s soccer team has won the C-USA Tournament title twice (2004 and 2006), earning NCAA trips both years. In 2003, the UAB women captured the C-USA regular season title.
• The UAB softball team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2010 and made a return trip in 2011. The Blazers defeated Florida State in the first round of the 2011 Athens Regional for their first ever NCAA tourney win.
• The Blazers field 18 intercollegiate teams as a Division I member of the NCAA and a founding member of Conference USA.
• The Blazer volleyball team has made two NCAA tournament appearances in the past five years (2006 and 2008). The program earned its first NCAA tournament victory in 2008 with a first-round win over Missouri State.
• Vonetta Flowers, a former UAB track & field AllAmerican, made history in February of 2002 when she won a Gold Medal at the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Flowers became the first Winter Olympics Gold Medalist ever from Alabama when she teamed with Jill Bakken to capture the two-woman bobsled competition.
• Blazer football earned its first postseason bowl appearance with a berth in the 2004 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The Blazers have finished as Conference USA runner-up three times since they became a football-playing member of the league.
www.uabsports.com
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Administration Dr. Carol Garrison, President
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AB President and alumna Carol Garrison has had an extraordinary view of her alma mater. She took her first full-time job in UAB Hospital, during the university’s formative years in the 1970s, then earned her master’s degree from UAB. When she returned to campus in fall 2002, as UAB’s sixth president, the young, dynamic institution had evolved into a world-renowned research university and medical center. A Montclair, New Jersey native, Dr. Garrison earned her bachelor’s (1974) and Ph.D. in epidemiology (1982) from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She was a faculty member, department chair, dean
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and provost at the University of South Carolina (19821997). She joined the University of Louisville as provost in 1997 and was appointed interim president there in early 2002. As president of UAB, Dr. Garrison also chairs the board of the UAB Health System, which includes UAB Hospital, The Kirklin Clinic, and other of UAB’s nationally ranked patient care facilities. During Dr. Garrison’s tenure, UAB has enjoyed remarkable growth and development. Recent years have seen the opening of state-of-the-art facilities such as the North Pavilion of UAB Hospital and the Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building, Heritage Hall and the burgeoning Campus Green along University Boulevard, and most recently, the UAB Women & Infants Center and Hazelrig-Salter Radiation-Oncology Facility.
The growth of the physical campus and academic programs has been guided by UAB’s Strategic Plan. Developed with campus-wide participation in 2003, the Strategic Plan has led to the recruitment of internationally known faculty and physicians, and the creation of innovative new curricula and honors programs for undergraduates. In 2011, UAB saw its largest enrollment ever (17,575). UAB has also recently been ranked among the top 15 percent of all U.S. universities in The Princeton Review (5th in diverse student population and 11th in student satisfaction). Now in her 10th year as president, Dr. Garrison continues working in partnership with the campus and the community towards an extraordinary vision for UAB and for Birmingham.
Brian Mackin, Athletics Director
rian Mackin was named UAB’s Director of Athletics on February 14, 2007. He moved into the position after spending five years as senior associate athletic director for external affairs for the Blazers. A former UAB baseball letterman, Mackin has a deep-rooted passion for the University and its athletics program. With an eye on the future, his commitment to continue to grow the program has been clear in the time since he became athletics director. He has made success in the classroom and improving athletic facilities two of his top priorities. Mackin was able to secure the first-ever naming rights for the athletics program with the generous gift from Don and Marsha Hire for the Hoke Hire Student-Athlete Academic Center. With the opening of the Academic Center, an abundance of new computer equipment has been added. Mackin has also strengthened the academic area by creating additional staff positions. Under Mackin’s watch, the Academic Reform Group (ARG) was initiated. This group is made up of athletics staff members and academic support staff. With its mission to create an environment of academic excellence in the department, the group addresses every aspect of a student-athlete’s experience while at UAB. Mackin has also demonstrated his commitment to academic success by initiating a penalty structure for student-athletes and making them accountable if they miss classes or tutorial sessions. Mackin’s commitment to academics has shown positive results. For the 2009-10 academic year, UAB
student-athletes accounted for nearly 25 percent of Conference USA Scholar-Athletes of the Year, awards that are handed out annually to the top student-athlete in each sport that the league sponsors. Since Mackin became athletics director, he has made facility improvements another objective of emphasis. A new 10,000-square foot weight room has opened for Blazer teams, as well as a new, spacious, state-of the-art athletic training facility which opened in the fall of 2008. With the renovation of the Ullman Building, the Blazers’ Olympic sports coaches have been able to relocate into brand new offices. Other facilities improvements have included the resurfacing of the track for the Blazers’ track and field team. In spring 2010, the first phase of the new, oncampus UAB softball facility was completed. The improvements haven’t gone unnoticed as UAB has been named as host site for the 2012 Conference USA Softball Championship. The baseball and softball programs also enjoy the hitting and pitching facility additions that were completed in spring 2010. New state-of-the-art video boards are now in place in Bartow Arena, Young Memorial Field and the new softball facility. The upgrades and progress of the program under Mackin have not been limited to facilities and academics. In the last three years, the athletics program entered an agreement with Nike that provides apparel and equipment for all of UAB’s athletics teams. Mackin came on board at UAB in the spring of 2002 as senior associate AD for external affairs. In that role, he was responsible for fund-raising, corporate support and marketing for the athletic department. In 2006, Mackin was named Division I-A Fund-
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2 0 1 1-12 U A B Men’s G ol f
raiser of the Year by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors. Under Mackin’s leadership, contributions to UAB athletics nearly tripled from $1.3 million in 2001 to about $3.7 million in 2006. Additionally, he has been responsible for the creation of several affinity groups including the Athletic Investors Group, the Champion Club, and the Blazer Club, which brought together the two annual funds supporting football and men’s basketball. Prior to joining UAB, Mackin served as Manager of Corporate Business Development at Vulcan Materials, where he was responsible for examining potential new markets for business development and locating growth opportunities in the industry. Mackin earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from UAB in 1983. He was a member of the Blazer baseball team four seasons and then moved into the Houston Astros baseball organization for one season. Mackin then joined Vulcan Materials, where he held management positions in sales and market analysis. In 1990, he joined Southern Ready Mix as sales manager before joining Dunn Construction in 1993 where he rose to vice president in 1999. His responsibilities included business development, sales and project management. Mackin’s community activities include the Birmingham Tip-Off Club, which hosts the State High School Final Four, the Monday Morning Quarterback Club and the Birmingham Rotary Club. He has served as the president of the Birmingham Tip-Off Club. Mackin and his wife, Sally, have five children: Ragland (23), Brian Jr. (21), Ferrell (18), Mary Aileen (17), and Ella (14).
U A B
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Administration Dr. Frank Messina, Faculty Athletics Representative
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r. Frank M. Messina, professor and chair of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Accounting and Information Systems (ACIS) in the UAB School of Business, was named faculty athletics repre-
sentative in 2008. He has been on staff at the university for 16 years. Messina has previously been chair of ACIS and is the school’s Ernst & Young Scholar. A Birmingham native, he came to UAB in 1993 as an assistant professor in accounting. He received a doctorate in business administration (D.B.A.) from Mississippi State University (MSU) in 1993, a master’s in professional accountancy at MSU in 1990 and a bachelor’s
in business administration at the University of West Alabama in 1986. Messina and his wife, Natalie, have two sons: Taylor (18) and TJ (8). A third son, Thomas, passed away in the spring of 2010 at the age of 15.
Senior Administrative Staff
Shannon Ealy
Senior Associate AD for External Affairs
Norm Reilly
Associate AD for Media Relations
Derita Ratcliffe
Coleman Barnes Associate AD for Development
Senior Associate AD Senior Woman Administrator
Matt Wildt
Associate AD for Ticket Operations & Football Administration
Reid Adair
Assistant AD for Facilities and Operations
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Corey Bray
Associate AD for Compliance
Mike Jones
Assistant AD for Athletic Training
2 0 11 -1 2 U A B Men’s G ol f
Timothy Garner
Danez Marrable
Brad Smith
Stacey Torman
Associate AD for Financial Affairs
Assistant AD for Marketing
Associate AD for Student Services
Director of Strength and Conditioning
Gene Bartow Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame ’89 National College Basketball Hall Of Fame ’09
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ne of the most respected figures in intercollegiate athletics, Gene Bartow, forged the UAB athletic program into a well-rounded organization with outstanding teams in several sports. Bartow, considered the “founding father” of UAB athletics, grew the intercollegiate sports program there from its infancy into one that featured 17 sports and an annual operating budget of more than $8 million by the time he retired from the position in 2000. Bartow, who passed away Jan. 3, 2012 after a nearly three-year battle with cancer, guided the program through three conference changes, grew the football team from a club sport into a Division I-A program, and added several women’s sports to the university’s athletics roster. Bartow was at the helm of the UAB men’s basketball program for 18 seasons, compiling a record of 366-203 (.643) during his tenure. He led the Blazers to the NIT in the program’s second year of existence, and followed that up with seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 1981 and the Elite Eight in 1982. In all, he led UAB to 14 postseason appearances, nine of which were NCAA Tournaments. In addition to his time at UAB, Bartow is one of the top college basketball coaches of all time. By the time he retired from collegiate coaching in 1996, he had led teams for 34 years at six universities (Central Missouri State, Valparaiso, Memphis State, Illinois, UCLA and UAB), compiling 647 wins, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, two Final Four appearances, one national title game appearance and one national Coach of the Year Award (both with Memphis State in 1973), and no probation problems with the NCAA. In 2009, Bartow received the ultimate honor as he was inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame. He entered the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 and is also a member of both the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame and the Northeast Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame. The Browning, Mo. native coached 34 years at six universities. He coached at Central Missouri State University from 1961-64, Valparaiso University from 1964-1970, Memphis State University from 1970-74, and he led the Tigers to the ‘73 NCAA national championship game and consecutive Missouri Valley Conference titles in the ‘71-’72 and ‘72-’73 seasons. In 1974 Bartow accepted the head coaching position at the University of Illinois. Illinois finished 8-18 in his only season coaching the Fighting Illini, and Bartow left his position to succeed John Wooden as the head coach of UCLA. Bartow coached at UCLA from 1975 to 1977, guiding them to a 52-9 record, including a berth in the 1976 Final Four. Bartow left UCLA after the 1977 season to take over the job of creating an athletic program at UAB. Bartow retired from coaching in 1996, and in 1997, UAB renamed its basketball venue, Bartow Arena, in his honor. The Birmingham News has voted him one of the top 10 most influential figures in Alabama sports for the past century. Bartow is survived by his wife, the former Ruth Huffine, and three children, Mark, Beth and Murry, who is the head men’s basketball coach at East Tennessee State. 42
2 0 1 1 - 1 2 U A B M e n ’s G o l f
“Founding Father” of UAB Athletics • UAB head basketball coach (1977-96) • UAB’s first Athletics Director (1977-2000) • Nine NCAA Tournament appearances at UAB • 14 postseason appearances during 18-year coaching career at UAB • 11 20-win seasons during UAB coaching career tenure • 647 career coaching victories • 366 victories at UAB • Led UAB to NCAA Sweet 16 in 1981 and Elite Eight appearance in 1982 • Voted by the Birmingham News as one of the top-10 influential figures in Alabama sports over the past century
Academics
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ssociate Athletic on a regular basis on necessary 2010-11 C-USA Director for Sturequirements for their chosen Commissioner’s dent Services Danez M. degree. The advisors also help plan Honor Roll Marrable oversees a staff class schedules, keeping in mind of eight full-time adviacademic standing, practice, travel sors, a learning specialist, and competition schedules. In (Student-athletes achieving reading and writing speaddition, athletic advisors regularly cialist and five assistants review the performance and class cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better) in the Don M. & Marattendance of all student-athletes sha Hoke Hire Studentto help them keep on pace toward Landry Haynes Athlete Academic Cengraduation. ter. Their mission is to Tyler Hock provide the highest qualIn addition, the Life Skills program ity of academic support, is run through this office. This Thomas Sutton counseling and guidance NCAA program centers around to UAB student-athletes the five commitments (academMichael Ulmer by promoting academic ics, athletics, personal developexcellence, self-responsiment, career development and bility, personal and professional growth. community service) and was created to support the student-athlete development initiaMarrable and her staff act as a liaison between tives and enhance the quality of the student-athlete, coaches and UAB’s academic the student-athlete expericommunities and ensures that student-athletes ence within the context of comply with academic rules established by the higher education. university, the NCAA and Conference USA. The staff also coordinates academic programs designed Finally, the Studentto assist the student-athletes in acquiring a qual- Athlete Advisory ity education as well as programs to promote Committee (SAAC) personal and career development. is advised through the student services offices. UAB’s Student Services program wants to make This group, the ‘voice’ of certain that student-athletes succeed to their the student-athletes, is highest academic ability. Inherent in the pro- composed of representagram is the philosophy that student-athletes tives from each team. At take responsibility for their own growth and UAB, this group works development while receiving maximum support. to promote UAB athletThe academic unit’s goals are to prepare student- ics, organizes community athletes for viable careers, to assist them in secur- service efforts, provides ing degrees and to produce responsible citizens. administration with the voice of the student-athThe athletic advisors, in conjunction with spe- letes and works to ensure cific major advisors, work with student-athletes student-athlete welfare and
Danez Marrable Associate Athletic Direc-
Mary Kathryn Borland Academic Advisor
Drew Barnette Academic Advisor
Sharon Johnson Academic Advisor
Charlie Hogan Academic Advisor
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Greg Green Coordinator of Football Academics
Josh Watson Academic Advisor
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success in the Birmingham community.
UAB’s commitment to academic excellence got a boost in the summer of 2008 with the completion of the Don M. & Marsha Hoke Hire StudentAthlete Academic Center. Under the direction of athletics director Brian Mackin, and with a generous donation from Don M. & Marsha Hoke Hire, UAB was able to completely renovate the academic center and provide first-class facilities to the Blazers’ student-athletes. Sitting in the middle of UAB’s athletic complexes, including Bartow Arena and the football practice facilities, the Hoke Hire Student-Athlete Academic Center serves as the home for overseeing the educational development and progress toward
Christina Harris Academic Advisor
Peggy Weiss Learning Specialist
Wayne Hamberger Learning Specialist
Sports Medicine
The Sports Medicine staff provides for all 17 varsity teams and 350 University of Alabama at Birmingham student-athletes with high quality health care. Student-athletes have access to the leading sports medicine and health care professionals. The Sports Medicine staff consists of team physicians, dentists, athletic trainers and a sports nutritionist. The daily care, prevention, evaluation and treatment of injuries is supervised by a staff of seven full-time and five graduate assistants that have been certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and licensed by the state of Alabama.
Dr. Brenda Baumann Team Physician
Dr. Marshall Crowther Team Physician
Melissa Adams
Laurie Fincher
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Assistant Athletic Trainer
cialists among the best in America. The Medical Director of UAB Sports Medicine is Dr. William Garth, an orthopedic surgeon. He is responsible for all services provided to student-athletes. General medical care is provided by Dr. Brenda Baumann and Dr. Marshall Crowther.
The Sports Medicine program is under the direction of Mike Jones; his full-time athletic trainers are Melissa Adams, Laurie Fincher, Bryan Koch, Gerald Mickler, Greg Mytyk and Jennifer Wallace. Graduate assistant trainers Seong Choi, Matt Fisher, Betsy Ostrowski, Ryan Richardson, Daniel Springer and Dani Stephenson complete the staff. Team physicians are affiliated with the acclaimed UAB Health System, health professional school and the UAB Sports Medicine. U.S. News & World Report and other national publications consistently rank UAB’s innovative programs and expert spe-
Dr. William Garth Team Physician
Gerald Mickler Assistant Athletic Trainer
In the fall of 2008, the Wallace Building Athletic Training Room opened. The 9,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility offers the finest therapeutic modalities and rehabilitative equipment. It has an extensive collection of therapeutic and rehabilitation equipment including a BTE isokinetic testing machine and hydrotherapy tanks. The Wet Room features two free standing dual-tank consoles that offer whole-body and extremity immersion in either warm or cold hydrotherapy. UAB has the largest dual-tank console that has a stainless steel tank with a capacity of 1,450 gallons of water and can accommodate up to 25 football student-athletes at a time. In addition to the Wallace Building Facility, auxiliary athletic training rooms are located in Bartow Arena and in Young Memorial Field.
Mike Jones Assistant AD Athletic Training
Bryan Koch Associate Athletic Trainer
Greg Mytyk
Jen Wallace
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Assistant Athletic Trainer
U
AB’s Strength and Conditioning program, the Blazers’ staff and student-athletes can now boast of having one of the finest facilities around. The new center opened in January of 2008 and houses a 10,000 square-foot weight room that features more than 40,000 pounds of free weights. Strength and conditioning coach coach Lou DeNeen works with members of the Blazer men’s golf team to develop training programs and enhance each athlete’s performance. DeNeen, who has more than 25 years of
experience in the area of strength and conditioning, joined the UAB staff prior to the 2007 campaign. In addition to his success at the collegiate level, DeNeen has also worked with and trained many professional athletes. His clientele includes MLB players Alex Rodriguez, Raul Ibanez, Mike Lowell, Jose Cruz, Jr. and Alex Gonzalez; NBA players Abdur-Rahim, Mark Strickland, Raja Bell, Jamal Mashburn, Carlos Arroyo, P.J. Brown and Joe Smith; and the NFL’s Tony Gonzalez, among many others. DeNeen and the Blazers moved into their
new strength and conditioning area in Bell Gymnasium, more than tripling the size of the area they had utilized previously in Bartow Arena. The bright and spacious weight room area includes state-of-the-art equipment for weight training, stretching and conditioning workouts. DeNeen uses a variety of techniques to assist the Blazers in achieving maximum performance and potential. With a heavy emphasis on Olympic style weightlifting, the program concentrates on speed, power, and strength.
Strength & Conditioning
Lou DeNeen
Men’s Golf Strength & Conditioning Coach
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EXCELLENCE Deanna Jackson
At The Next Level
Years At UAB: 1998-2002
• First and only UAB player selected in the WNBA Draft, chosen eighth overall by the Cleveland Rockers in 2002 • Competed with USA Basketball on the 2000 Jones Cup Team that won the Gold in Taipei • Only women’s basketball player in C-USA and UAB history to record more than 2,000 career points and
Graeme McDowell Years At UAB: 1999-2002
• Captured the 2010 U.S. Open Championship – the first major title by a former UAB golfer and the first U.S. Open win by a European player in nearly 40 years • Has won six professional tournaments, five of which have come on the European Tour • A member of Europe’s Ryder Cup Team in 2008 and helped lift his team to the trophy in 2010 • Named 2010 ASWA Professional Athlete of the Year and GWAA Golfer of the Year • Ranked as high as No. 4 in the world golf rankings • First-team All-America selection and C-USA Golfer of the Year in 2001 and 2002 • Winner of the 2002 Fred Haskins Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate golfer Roddy White Years At UAB: 2001-04
• Drafted No. 27 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in 2005 • Was named as an NFL All-Pro wide receiver in 2010 • Became the first UAB alum to earn an invitation to the NFL Pro Bowl, receiving the nod in three consecutive seasons (2008-2010) • First Falcon ever to have 80 catches and 1,100-plus yards in four straight seasons (2007-10) • Collected 71 receptions for an NCAA-leading and C-USA-record 1,452 yards and a C-USArecord 14 touchdowns as a senior in 2004 • Ranks second in the UAB record books in career receptions (163), receiving yards (3,112) and receiving touchdowns (26) Vonetta (Jeffrey) Flowers Years At UAB: 1992-95
• Inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 • Made history at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, becoming the first and only former UAB athlete to earn an Olympic Gold Medal • Captured the Gold in the bobsled as the first black athlete (male or female in any country) to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics • Selected to carry the American flag in the 2002 closing ceremonies • Honored as the 2002 USOC Team of the Year with teammate Jill Bakken • All-American in track & field at UAB, where she still holds numerous school records
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1,000 career rebounds • Two-time C-USA Player of the Year (2000-01, 2001-02) and the league’s Freshman of the Year in 1999 • UAB career leader in rebounds (1,118) and ranks second in school history in points (2,144)
Bryan Thomas Years At UAB: 1998-2001
• Selected No. 22 overall by the New York Jets in 2002, becoming the Blazers’ highest-ever NFL draft pick • Entering his 10th year as a Jet with 141 career games played, compiling 91 starts, 404 tackles, 31 sacks, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries • Ranks as UAB’s all-time leader in career sacks (36) and tackles for loss (56) • Led the “Steel Shield” defense in 2001, which topped the nation in rushing defense (57.3 yards per game) and was ranked No. 5 in the nation in total defense (265.9 yards per game)
Dejan Jakovic Years At UAB: 2005-07
• A starting defender for D.C. United in Major League Soccer • Formerly played for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia’s First Division • Has made 16 international appearances for the Canadian National Team • A three-time all-conference selection at UAB • Twice earned first-team all-region honors
Chris Hammond Years At UAB: 1985
• Drafted in 1986 by Cincinnati Reds and made major league debut in 1990 • Pitched 14 seasons in the major leagues, including four with the Reds and five with the Florida Marlins, finishing his career with an overall record of 66-62 and a 4.14 ERA • Pitched in the 2003 World Series with the New York Yankees • Known more as a hitter at UAB, posting a .275 average with 32 runs scored and 16 RBI in 1985
2011-12 UAB Men’s Golf
Proud Past Bright Future Summer, 1977: Coach Gene Bartow is hired as UAB’s first intercollegiate Athletics Director and head basketball coach. Preparations begin for the hiring of coaches and support staff, recruitment of student-athletes, establishment of the Golden 100 scholarship foundation, scheduling, etc. Fall, 1978: UAB athletic teams begin intercollegiate competition for the first time; the university begins an 11-year association with the Sun Belt Conference. Nov. 24, 1978: The UAB men’s basketball team plays its first game, a 66-54 loss to Nebraska before a crowd of 14,800 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center; UAB has gone on to win 20 or more games 15 times, appear in 11 NCAA Tournaments and eight NITs. March, 1981: The Blazer men’s basketball team defeats Kentucky in the NCAA Mideast Regional, and reaches the NCAA “Sweet 16.” This appearance marks the beginning of a streak of seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments for UAB (1981-87). March, 1982: UAB adds to its amazing basketball success story, defeating Indiana and Virginia in the Southeast Regional, and reaching the NCAA “Elite Eight.” The Southeast Regional in Birmingham is the first of five NCAA Tournament events to be hosted by UAB (’82, ’84, ’85, ’87, ’88). March, 1989: Blazer basketball reaches the NIT Final Four, defeating Michigan State for third place at Madison Square Garden. Fall, 1989: The UAB club football team is organized; the team goes 0-6 in its first season. 1990-91: The Blazer baseball team wins its first Sun Belt Conference Championship and becomes the first UAB team other than men’s basketball to participate in the NCAA Tournament. Men’s tennis wins the first of five consecutive conference championships in the Sun Belt and Great Midwest Conferences. Volleyball wins the first of three consecutive championships in the Sun Belt and Great Midwest conferences and makes its first of four consecutive post-season appearances. 1991-92: UAB begins competition in the Great Midwest Conference. The UAB football team begins its first season of varsity play at the Division III level. Blazer volleyball and baseball win the first Great Midwest Championship. UAB places its first men’s tennis players, Frank Schaffner and Karl Steffen, in NCAA Tournament play. 1992-93: Men’s basketball reaches the NIT Final Four, defeating Alabama, Clemson, Southwest Missouri State and Providence. The nationally-ranked UAB men’s tennis team participates in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Blazer volleyball, cross country and tennis teams all win Great Midwest Conference championships. January, 1993: UAB announces that its football program will compete at the NCAA I-AA level, beginning with the 1993 season. 1993-94: Blazer teams win six league championships, and UAB wins the Great Midwest Conference Commissioner’s Cup, awarded to the university with the most successful overall athletics program. The Blazer basketball team goes 14-0 vs. GMW opponents and makes its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Men’s basketball is nationally-ranked and participates in the NCAA Tournament. August, 1994: UAB announces that its football program will compete at the NCAA I-A level and that the school will field a women’s soccer team beginning with the 1996 season. 1994-95: UAB soccer wins the Great Midwest Conference championship and participates in the NCAA Tournament. UAB wins GMW championship in men’s and women’s
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tennis, women’s indoor track & field, women’s outdoor track & field and men’s golf. April 24, 1995: UAB becomes a charter member of Conference USA. March 26, 1996: One era ends and another begins as coach Gene Bartow steps
The final score read 13-10 as the UAB football program earned its signature victory at LSU on Sept. 23, 2000.
Mirela Vladulesu took the collegiate tennis world by storm and was the top-ranked women’s tennis player in the country for much of the 1997-98 season.
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down as head men’s basketball coach. November 14, 1996: Conference USA announces that UAB has been admitted as a football-playing member; the Blazers will begin C-USA play in 1999. 1997-98: UAB freshman Mirela Vladulescu takes the women’s collegiate tennis world by storm, winning both the ITA Clay Court National Championship and Riviera Women’s All-America Championship; she is the first UAB tennis player to win a collegiate grand slam event. Vladulescu will later be the top-ranked player in the NCAA rankings for much of the 1997-98 season. The men’s golf team receives a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. 1998-99: The men’s basketball team makes its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Mirela Vladulescu returns to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, despite an injury-plagued season. 1999-00: UAB athletics has arguably its best season to date. The UAB football team becomes an official member of Conference USA and goes 4-2 in conference play during its inaugural season. The UAB men’s soccer team wins the Conference USA Championship and reaches the NCAA “Elite Eight”. Synchronized swimming finishes fourth in the country at the U.S. Collegiate Championships in its inaugural season. Women’s basketball reaches the “Sweet 16,” the men’s tennis team makes its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance and men’s golf makes its second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years. July 10, 2000: Gene Bartow announces his retirement as athletics director after 23 years of service to the university. August 22, 2000: Herman Frazier is named UAB’s second athletics director. Sept. 23, 2000: In what was arguably the greatest win in UAB football history, the Blazers go to Baton Rouge, La. and upset SEC foe LSU, 13-10, on a game-winning field goal by Rhett Gallego in the waining seconds. 2000-01: Led by sophomore All-American Graeme McDowell, the men’s golf team finished ninth in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to its first NCAA Championship at Duke University, where it garnered a tie for 12th place. Senior women’s tennis player Mirela Vladulescu finished off a four-year career as one of the most successful athletes in UAB history. The men’s soccer team made it to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The football team finished 7-4 overall, becoming the first “bowl-eligible” Blazer squad since UAB moved to the NCAA I-A level in 1996. The women’s basketball team, led by junior All-American Deanna Jackson, finished the season 20-11 and advanced to the WNIT. In just its second season, the synchronized swimming team placed fourth at the U.S. Collegiate Championships and eighth at the U.S. Nationals. 2001-02: Led by All-American Graeme McDowell, who was the No. 1-ranked golfer in the nation, the UAB men made their third consecutive appearance (fourth overall) in the NCAA Tournament. The Blazer football squad again boasted another “bowl eligible” season, as the team went 6-5 in 2001. The men’s soccer team made its third consecutive trip (fourth overall) to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the “Sweet 16.” The UAB softball team had its best season to date, advancing to the C-USA Championship game and boasting a 39-22 overall record. Denise Peters and Lisa Nowoslawski of the women’s soccer team were both named Verizon Academic All-Americans. In addition, Peters was named the C-USA Women’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year. Synchronized swimming earned its highest finish to date at the U.S. Collegiate Championships, taking third. Four swimmers received Academic All-America honors and three swimmers were named AllAmericans by the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Coaches Committee. April 4, 2002: Athletics Director Herman Frazier and UAB President Ann Reynolds announce the hiring of Mike Anderson as UAB’s third men’s basketball coach. November 21, 2002: Watson Brown is named UAB‘s third athletics director. 2002-03: In his first season at the helm of the men’s basketball program, Mike Anderson guided the Blazers to a 21-win season and a quarterfinal finish in the NIT. Lisa Nowoslawski capped off her career for the women’s soccer program by earning several prestigious academic awards, including an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the C-USA Postseason Scholarship Award and first-team Verizon / CoSIDA Academic All-America honors for the second straight year. The synchronized swimming team posted its second straight third-place finish at the U.S. Collegiate Championships and recorded a fourth place finish, its highest to date, at the U.S. National Championships. Six swimmers received Academic All-America honors and three swimmers were named All-Americans by the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Coaches Committee. 2011-12 UAB Men’s Golf
Sept. 4, 2003: The UAB football team plays host to Southern Miss in front of the biggest crown in UAB history, and the most people ever to watch a Conference USA football game when 44,669 people flocked to Legion Field. October 31, 2003: With a dominating 2-0 win on the road against USF, the UAB women’s soccer team earned its first Conference USA Championship and set the school record for shutouts in a season with nine. The Blazers’ Tara Kidwell and Jill Knottek each scored second half goals to lead UAB to its momentous victory. March, 2004: The UAB men’s basketball team shocks the college basketball world with its 76-75 upset over top-seeded Kentucky to advance to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Tournament. The Blazers would finish the season with a 22-10 overall record and ranked No. 23 in the country. Also, the Blazers’ 12-4 record in Conference USA earned them a share of the first C-USA regular season championship. Head coach Mike Anderson was also named the 2004 Conference USA Coach of the Year. Spring, 2004: The synchronized swimming team posted is third straight third-place finish at the U.S. Collegiate Championships and recorded a fifth-place finish at the U.S. National Championships. Fall, 2004: The UAB women’s soccer team claimed the C-USA Tournament title with a thrilling 2-1 victory over host and regular-season champion Saint Louis in St. Louis, Mo., to earn its first NCAA Tournament berth in school history. The UAB football team made its first bowl game appearance in school history as the Blazers faced Hawai’i in the 2004 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl. The Blazers fell to the Warriors, 59-40, on Christmas Eve in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Spring, 2006: The UAB men’s basketball team earned its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament after finishing as Conference USA regular season and tournament runner-up. The synchronized swimming team took fourth place at the U.S. Collegiate Nationals. The Blazer softball team turned in one of its finest seasons in program history as the team won 31 games during the season to finish as the C-USA runnerup. Head coach Marla Townsend was named the C-USA Coach-of-the-Year. April 7, 2006: Mike Davis named as the fourth head basketball coach in the program’s 28-year history. Fall, 2006: UAB’s fall sports teams made three NCAA Tournament appearances, claimed three C-USA titles and beat the No. 1 team in the country. The UAB cross country team won the conference championship and head coach Ray Stanfield was named C-USA Coach of the Year. The women’s soccer team ran through the C-USA Tournament, and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. UAB’s men’s soccer team beat the No. 1 team in the country during the regular season and hosted a first-round NCAA Tournament game. To conclude the fall sports season, the Blazer volleyball squad won its firstever Conference USA Tournament title and made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
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The 2006 UAB volleyball team won the Conference USA Tournament title and competed in the program’s first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament.
In 2011, the UAB men’s basketball team secured the program’s first outright Conference USA regular season championship. December 17, 2006: Former Georgia offensive coordinator Neil Callaway was chosen to lead the UAB football team, becoming the third coach in the program’s history, and the second coach to lead the Blazers since becoming a Division I program in 1996. Spring,
February 14, 2007: Former UAB baseball player and alumnus Brian Mackin was selected as the program’s fourth full-time Athletics Director. Spring, 2008: UAB men’s golf team captures the program’s first-ever Conference USA Championship. The Blazers went on to make the program’s seventh NCAA Regional and third NCAA National Championship appearances. Zack Sucher was tabbed second-team All-America and captured four individual titles during the 2007-08 men’s golf season. May 21, 2008: The UAB baseball team made history by recording the program’s first-ever win over the then-No. 5 Rice Owls, 8-2, in the opening round of the Conference USA Tournament. Not only did the Blazers defeat the Owls for the first time in 10 tries, but it also was the second-highest ranked opponent the baseball team has defeated in program history. The Blazers would go on to match their best-ever result in the C-USA Tournament, making it to the semifinals. 2009-10: The softball team capped arguably the most successful season in program history with 37 wins and its first ever NCAA tournament berth. The men’s basketball team also Participated in the postseason, advancing to the NIT quarterfinals and hosting defending national champion North Carolina at Bartow Arena. Individually, football’s Joe Webb and men’s soccer’s Two-Boys Gumede were selected as C-USA Offensive Players of the Year for their sports. Jala Harris became the first C-USA women’s basketball player ever to earn Freshman and Sixth Player of the Year honors in the same season. Feb. 23, 2010: The UAB
2007:
Zack Sucher matched UAB’s highest finish ever at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships, closing the tournament tied for fourth place with a five-under 275 during four rounds of play. Sucher became just the fourth UAB men’s golfer in program history to earn All-American status, nabbing a spot on the honorable mention All-America team. In addition, the men’s golf team made its fifth NCAA Regional appearance in the past eight years.
2011-12 UAB Men’s Golf
its
softball team opened new, on-campus facility, drawing a school-record crowd of 1,323 to its contest with Alabama. Spring,
2011:
The UAB men’s basketball team captured the program’s first-ever outright Conference USA regular season championship. The Blazers were also selected to the NCAA Tournament, marking their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2006 and the program’s 14th NCAA selection in its 32-year history. The softball team earned its second NCAA berth in as many seasons as well. Furthermore, women’s tennis standout Jenny Cape became the first Academic All-American for her sport, while track and field also received its first Academic All-America selections, as Nora Mehl and Rhiannon Johns received the nod.
UAB
All-Americans Men’s Basketball
Men’s Soccer
Men’s Golf
Aaron Johnson Jerome Mincy Steve Mitchell Oliver Robinson
Clint Baumstark Peter Byaruhanga Leandro de Oliveira Tony McManus Flavio Monteiro Rumbani Munthali Marin Pusek Houston Smith
Paul Dickinson Graeme McDowell Garrett Osborn Zack Sucher
Football
Rodregis Brooks Cedrick Buchannon Josh Evans Kerry Frazier Robert Leslie Derrick Ingram John Whitcomb Roddy White
Women’s Soccer
Tara Kidwell Men’s Tennis
Wanda Hightower Deanna Jackson
Gerd Albiez Mike Kirsten Paul Rosner Frank Schaffner Vaughn Snyman Martin Woisetschläger
Baseball
Women’s Tennis
Shayne Carnes Jay Cole Mitch Jones Ryan Keedy
Mirela Vladulescu
Women’s Basketball
Academic All-Americans Baseball Brent Laircey Men’s Basketball Carter Long
Synchronized Swimming
Morgan Clarke Meryl Grandia Amanda Haeuser Stephanie Jackson Stacey Jackson Margareta Jakovac Stacy Leiker Sara Petrov Hallie Todd Bogdana Zareva
Football Johnny Rea Volleyball Suzie Johnson Patti Schroder Men’s Tennis Sebastian Falk Frank Schaffner Martin Woisetschläger
Volleyball
Women’s Tennis Jenny Cape
Ivana Bozic Sam Serley Nevena Stefanov
Men’s Soccer Lane Knight Loucas Papaconstantinou Lukasz Kwapisz Women’s Soccer Danielle Blair Brianna McCarty Lisa Nowoslawski Denise Peters Jill Porto Vanessa Woodward Synchronized Swimming Vanessa Dash Andrea Dash Kelli Dickerson Amanda Haeuser Frances Halloran Stacey Jackson Stephanie Jackson
Track/ Cross Country
Elizabeth Ambrus Vonetta Flowers Rhiannon Johns Angela King Ryan Keedy
Steve Mitchell
Elizabeth Ambrus
Flavio Monteiro
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2011-12 UAB Men’s Golf
Rebecca Johnson Kristen Kramer Stacy Leiker Karen Meyer Sara Petrov Sarah Pikal Moraine Ruddick Hallie Todd Softball Amanda Byrne Allison Davis Amanda Ellis Candice Hithe Kris Lara Emily Scarbrough Megan Stephenson Track/Cross Country Rhiannon Johns Nora Mehl
Men’s Basketball • 14 NCAA Tournament and 11 NIT appearances • Eight conference championships • 28 winning seasons in 33 years • 21 20-win seasons in 33 years • Three Sweet 16 appearances • Four All-Americans Football • First bowl game appearance in 2004 (7-5 record) • First “bowl-eligible” season with 7-4 overall record in 2000 • Played first season at Division I-A level in 1996; now competes as a member of Conference USA • Roddy White selected in first round of 2005 NFL draft (No. 27 overall) • Bryan Thomas selected in first round of 2002 NFL draft (No. 22 overall) • Eight All-Americans Men’s Soccer • NCAA Tournament participant (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006) • 1999 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and 2001 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 • Three conference championships (1994, 1995, 1999) • Eight All-Americans Women’s Basketball • 2000 NCAA Sweet 16 participant • Four conference championships (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994) • NCAA Tournament participant (1994, 2000) • Four-time WNIT participant (1990, 1991, 2001, 2007) • 2011 WBI Champions • Four All-Americans Baseball • Three conference championships (1991, 1992, 1994) • 1991 NCAA Tournament participant
• Shayne Carnes (1998) and Ryan Keedy (2008) named All-Americans by multiple publications • Four All-Americans Men’s Tennis • Six All-Americans • Three Academic All-Americans • Five NCAA Tournament appearances (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000) • Top-30 ranking from 1993-2000 • Five conference championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995) Women’s Tennis • Four conference championships (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996) • Six national rankings (1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) • Top-ranked singles player in nation (Mirela Vladulescu-1997-98) • One All-American Volleyball • Two-time NCAA Tournament participant (2006 and 2008) • Four conference championships (1990, 1991, 1992, 2006) • Five WIVC postseason appearances (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992) • Two Academic All-Americans • Three AVCA All-America honorable mention honorees Men’s Golf • 2001, 2002 and 2008 NCAA Championship Participant • NCAA Regional Participants 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 • 2008 Conference USA Champions • 1995 Great Midwest Conference Champions • No. 1-ranked golfer and Fred Haskings Award winner (Graeme McDowell) • Six All-Americans
Blazer
Track & Field/ Cross Country • 2002 Cross Country NCAA All-Academic Team • 1995 Great Midwest Conference Women’s Indoor & Outdoor Champions • Three All-Americans • 1992 Women’s Great Midwest Conference Cross Country Champions • Two Olympic Trials Qualifiers • Cross Country conference champions, 2006 • 2005 Individual Cross Country C-USA Champion • Eight-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Softball • Two-time NCAA Tournament participant (2010 and 2011) • 18 NFCA All-American Scholar Athletes • Five athletes named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I AllRegion Rifle • One C-USA Shootout third place finisher • 1997-98 Individual fifth place finisher at C-USA Championship Women’s Golf • Seven All-Conference USA Selections • C-USA Freshman of the Year Women’s Soccer • UAB Academic Award (1997, 1998, 2000) • Five All-Americans • Three conference championships (2003, 2004, 2006) • Two NCAA Tournament appearances (2004, 2006)
Highlights
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2011-12 UAB Men’s Golf
T
he state-of-the-art, $25 million Campus Recreation Center has covered all the bases. It boasts 18,000 square feet of weight and fitness space outfitted with all-new equiptment and a one-eighth-mile oval running track that juts out of the building, curving toward University Boulevard and 15th Street South to provide panoramic views of the campus. And just to make sure no one gets bored, planners added a five-story, rock-climbing wall. The facility features four basketball courts, five racquetball courts, one of which converts to a squash court and a multi-purpose court that can be used for indoor soccer, volleyball, floor hockey or badminton. There are also four aerobic rooms and a swimming pool with four lap lanes and leisure and physical rehabilitation areas. The handicap-accessible pool has many special features. A continuous current in the “lazy river” carries swimmers around the outer edge of the pool in inner tubes – the ride ends under a waterfall – or individuals can walk against the flow as a part of a physical rehabilitation program. For more intense resistance training, center members can use the “vortex,” a circular area within the pool with forceful water jets.
One of the four aerobics rooms is dedicated to spinning; the others host Pilates, general aerobics, yoga, step, and kickboxing classes along with other specialty offerings. The facility also includes the Kids Zone, a supervised area – equipped with toys, books, and movies – where parents can drop off children while they work out. The center also has
a juice bar, wireless internet access, and an Outdoor Pursuits Center that rents camping gear and leads backpacking, rafting, and skiing trips to desitnations around the United States. The first floor houses a wellness center that coordinates with UAB groups to offer nutritional counseling, body-fat measurements, personal training, and general fitness assessments.
Campus
Recreation Center
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2011-12 UAB Men’s Golf
BIRMINGHAM The Magic City
The statue of Vulcan — Roman God of Fire and Iron — is the symbol of the city of Birmingham.
W
ith a population of more than 230,000 (more than one million in the metropolitan area), Birmingham has a strong, diverse, service-oriented economy and is recognized as a Southeast leader. Founded shortly after the Civil War, Birmingham rapidly became known as “The Magic City” because of its phenomenal
rate of industrial growth in its beginning. Its mountainous strata and forest surrounding the city are rich with ore deposits, and it was that natural wealth that quickly transformed young Birmingham into a bustling steel metropolis. Today, Birmingham continues to earn the distinction, “The Magic City,” but this tribute is due to the city’s economic competitiveness, technological advancements and quality of life — offerings which are sought after by professionals with an eye toward the future. Birmingham has been recognized as one of America’s “Most Livable Cities” by the U.S. Conference of Mayors — as recently as 1993. Birmingham’s strategic location and diverse economy position the city as one of tremendous opportunity and growth. Centrally located and the largest municipality in Alabama, the city is home to a number of renowned individuals who have made an impression on the nation and the world in music and entertainment, education, medicine and sports, to name a few. There is never a lack of cultural entertainment in “The Magic City”. Dozens of neighborhood and city-wide festivals, museums, parks, sports competitions and much more provide unlimited activity and amusement. Residents and visitors to Birmingham enjoy the city’s recreational and historical attractions such as the Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Botanical Gardens,
Vulcan Park, Sloss Furnaces, Southern Museum of Flight and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Sports enthusiasts will never be at a loss for activity at the heart of the “Football Capital of the South.” UAB plays all of its home football games at historic Legion Field, which also was the site of preliminary round soccer matches at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Professional athletic teams in the area include the Class-AA Birmingham Barons (baseball). Several annual fests are held in Birmingham. The biggest is City Stages, held each spring in the downtown City Center. City Stages attracts nearly a quarter of a million people for a three-day weekend of unlimited music. All of this and more makes Birmingham “The Magic City” to residents and visitors year-round.
The Birmingham Civil Rights Museum stands as a reminder of the past and a beacon of hope for the future.
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2012 UAB Men’s Golf